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“Not one person I’ve spoken to about this campaign has said these cutbacks haven’t hurt them personally or someone they are close to. I’ve always had fire in my belly to make a difference, but this campaign has increased it more.” - Tamara Weber, Champion 4 Change.
Ottawa (25 April 2011) - The All Together Now! campaign has been gaining tremendous momentum since it was launched by the National Union of Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) in June 2010.
Almost 7000 equality pledges and proclamations have been signed and hundreds of presentations on fair taxation and the need for quality public services have been made across the country. We have hundreds of Champions 4 Change and campaign supporters working hard to spread the word in communities from coast-to-coast and through social media to build support for the campaign.
A new regular feature of the campaign, the ATN Campaigner, provides updates to all supporters on campaign activities and events. Each newsletter features one our of hardworking volunteers who have made this campaign so successful. In the April edition, Tamara Weber from British Columbia is featured. Download the ATN Campaigner now.
Profile of One of Our Best: Tamara Weber, BCGEU/NUPGE
Tamara Weber is a health care worker, trade unionist, social justice activist—and now a super Champion 4 Change. While all twelve of the BCGEU/NUPGE champions have worked furiously on this campaign, Weber tops the list.
She has collected more than 600 signed equality pledges and dozens of signed proclamations from almost every labour leader in the province. Not to mention a whole bunch of the same from MLAs, MPs, mayors, councillors and community leaders.
After attending the three-day training session in Ottawa at the end of September 2010, Weber hit the ground running, and she hasn’t stopped, giving literally hundreds of campaign presentations throughout BC’s Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley at local union meetings, labour councils, stewards’ courses, health and safety classes, union schools, constituency meetings and community events.
She’s as much at ease working the crowd of over 1,000 delegates to the BC Federation of Labour Convention as she is talking one-on-one with young workers and seniors. For Weber, it’s been as much a learning experience for her as it has for the people she’s talked to.
“Not one person I’ve spoken to about this campaign has said these cutbacks haven’t hurt them personally or someone they are close to. It’s opened my eyes. I’ve always had fire in my belly to make a difference, but this campaign has increased it more.”
A home support worker for 14 years, Weber knows first-hand how important public services like community health care are for seniors and the critically ill.
“I go to people’s homes and help people with their daily activities who are elderly, living with MS, had a car accident, or recovering from major surgery. I give families a break, especially when their loved ones are nearing the end of life. I make sure their family needs are met. My job is to help people live independently in their own home for as long as they can."
“I’d hate to imagine what life would be for people if they didn’t have the services of a home support worker. I know that we have to fund these services. We need to find the revenues. We need fair tax policies, not more corporate tax cuts.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
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