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“OPSEU would not make this effort if we did not truly believe that public services in Sudbury and across Ontario are at risk of privatization like never before. But they are, and the Wynne government’s privatization scheme is real.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.
Sudbury (02 Feb. 2014) — The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has weighed in on the February 5 Sudbury provincial by-election campaign by launching a radio advertising campaign against the Wynne government’s efforts to privatize more public services in the province.
OPSEU/NUPGE launches ads, making the case for public services instead of privatization
Radio Ad: The privatization party
“In this by-election, Sudbury finds itself at ground zero in Kathleen Wynne’s war against quality public services,” OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas told a news conference in Sudbury. “OPSEU would not make this effort if we did not truly believe that public services in Sudbury and across Ontario are at risk of privatization like never before. But they are, and the Wynne government’s privatization scheme is real.”
Thomas said OPSEU/NUPGE has purchased hundreds of radio “spots” at English- and French-language radio stations in Sudbury to hammer home the union’s message that privatization of public services is costly and inefficient — points made by the Auditor General in her recent report. A second round of radio advertisements will be released in the days leading up to the February 5 vote.
Public services threatened by Liberal cuts and outsourcing
In North Bay earlier this week, Thomas heard that as many as 200 IT jobs in the Ontario Public Service in that northern community could be lost and relocated off-shore.
“(Former premiers) Mike Harris and Dalton McGuinty sparked the fire sale of public services under their watch,” Thomas told the news conference. “Kathleen Wynne is simply pouring gasoline on it.”
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