This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
Satirical video called People for Corporate Tax Cuts makes the point that public employees and public programs must not lavish unnecessary billions on corporations.
Toronto (24 Jan. 2011) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has released a satirical video called People for Corporate Tax Cuts to make its point that public employees are being scapegoated to pay for unnecessary corporate tax cuts.
 |
The video is part of boarder campaign "unlike anything we've ever done" to get the union's message across to voters in an election year in which both major political parties are targeting public workers and public programs to finance tax cuts and government deficits.
The union is encouraging members across the province, as well as young people and everyone else concerned by the direction the government is taking, to visit a new website and not only watch the video but check out other resources and pass on the message to family, friends, co-workers and neighbours.
"We want this campaign to go viral," says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "The only way that can happen is if you want it to. Please go to the website and dive in. When you find something you like, e-mail a link to your friends, put it on your Facebook page and talk it up."
Thomas says corporate power has become so pervasive in modern society that governments no longer seriously challenge them.
"At one time, democratic governments were the driving force in society. Voters pushed politicians to build things – things like Medicare, community colleges and safe, modern highways. We pushed for health and safety laws and pensions and better lives for vulnerable people. We pushed, and we got results. But these days, corporations and their millionaire CEOs call the shots," Thomas says.
"They can pay hundreds of dollars a plate at fundraising dinners to keep politicians beholden. They can offer them the promise of a richer lifestyle after politics. They can bamboozle them with their think tanks and talk radio. When they control politicians, corporations get what they want. And what they want most of all is money. Buckets of it. Barrels of it. Billions of it."
Thomas says corporate tax cuts planned by the McGuinty government, and paid for in large part through a planned freeze in public sector salaries and cuts in public programs, will top $8 billion a year when fully phased in.
"Just one of these - the corporate income tax cut - will cost $2.4 billion a year. That’s a big number. It works out to $500 for each of the 4.8 million households in Ontario," he notes.
"But why should Ontarians pay, either in cash or in lost public services? The idea that those tax cuts will create jobs and prosperity is a myth spread by the same people who get the money. These tax cuts are no strings attached. Job creation by the corporations who receive them is strictly voluntary," Thomas says.
"It’s time Ontarians said 'Enough is Enough' to corporate power. It’s time we took government back from the corporations. It’ll be a battle, but somebody’s got to fight it. It might as well be us."
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
More information:
• Visit People for Corporate Tax Cuts website