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In the month-and-a-half that we were on the road, we travelled nearly 12,000 kilometres, visited more than 30 communities, and met more than 3,000 Atlantic Canadians struggling to get by in this era of rising income inequality. Check out our photo stream from the road
Halifax (30 Oct. 2013) - The Fairness Express rolled in to Halifax for one last stop on the final day of the six week Only Fair is Fair, Income Inequality Isn't bus tour across the Atlantic provinces.
As you'll read in this final blog post, the tour was as informative as it was insightful. It was an inner look at how communities and the people who live and work in them are coping with rising income inquality and the lack of fairness in our country.
These Canadians are well aware of what is happening. They see the low wage job strategy, the cuts to public services, the attack on labour rights and the unbelievable lack of tax fairness all around them. But despite the frustration on the ground about working harder and longer and not getting ahead, people still have an overwhelming sense that we can do better.
By working together, there is hope for all of us.
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It was with heavy hearts but a renewed sense of optimism that we stepped off the Fairness Express for the final time yesterday, bade fond farewell to driver extraordinaire Lester Barkhouse, and closed the book on our "Only Fair is Fair, Income Inequality Isn't" campaign in Atlantic Canada. In the month-and-a-half that we were on the road, we travelled nearly 12,000 kilometres, visited more than 30 communities, and met more than 3,000 Atlantic Canadians struggling to get by in this era of rising income inequality. It was a sobering journey -- over and over, we heard about people's struggles with precarious work and stagnant ages, punishingly expensive education and childcare, and widespread fear of retirement age poverty. But despite all the pain we encountered, the tour was also a strangely inspiring journey. People were genuinely relieved to hear that their families and communities weren't the only ones suffering, and appreciative of our conviction that, together, we have the power to make Canada more fair. It was an experience that few of the 30-some Atlantic Canadians National Union Public and General Employees (NUPGE) members who were regular riders on the Fairness Express will soon forget. "Today was the last day of the Fairness Express bus tour and let me say that was one fantastic experience!" wrote Heather-Ann Slade, member of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees (NSGEU/NUPGE) on Facebook. "Met some more beautiful people and have learned so much about myself in the process. Keep talking people about income inequality and fair taxation because this affects us all. We all have the responsibility to educate and communicate and hopefully we as the people in this country will be the difference! I'm truly feeling a huge sense of accomplishment today!" Soon, we'll publish a more detailed report about the tour -- where we went, who we met, and some of the most touching stories and exciting ideas that we heard along the way -- so keep checking back here. Until then, a heart-felt thanks to all who helped and welcomed us along the way. We've never been more optimistic that we can achieve the Canada that so many of us want. |
More information:
All Together Now! campaign Fairness Express
Fairness Express Flickr photostream
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