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“This government has been stealthy and aggressive in its sell off of our public assets. That represents an immediate and permanent threat to our education, roads, health care, and all the services that make our province great." — Bob Bymoen, SGEU President
Regina (23 April 2015) — Stepping up the need to protect the province’s public resources for the benefit of all Saskatchewan families is the theme of this year’s provincial convention for the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU/NUPGE).
Delegates at SGEU/NUPGE Convention organize in support of public services
Over 250 people are gathered in Moose Jaw for three days of both union business and renewing the commitment to making sure the province’s strong public services and people power are not dismantled by the Government of Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Party has begun privatizing public liquor sales and has increasingly committed to using P3s to replace traditional public services that have been valued by the people of Saskatchewan throughout the province’s history.
“Saskatchewan people rely on the province’s resources and revenue from public assets, like liquor stores, to secure the services we provide to improve our quality of life,” says SGEU President Bob Bymoen. “We need to remember public services are used by every person and every corporation every day and are essential. Businesses and private residents alike use airports, roads, electricity, cell phones, internet services, water and a whole myriad of services that are public. We need to keep these services in public hands, working for Saskatchewan families and communities.”
Convention theme Own It! focuses on how the government is trying to privatize important public services and assets
The convention theme supports the launch of a new campaign called OWN IT! This campaign invites the Saskatchewan people to learn more about privatization, share their views, sign a petition to stop the sell off of public services and Crown corporations, and organize in their communities.
“We want to reach out to all Saskatchewan residents to let them know the extent of the threat to our public resources,” says Bymoen. “This government has been stealthy and aggressive in its sell off of our public assets. Once they are gone, they are gone. That represents an immediate and permanent threat to our education, roads, healthcare, and all the services that make our province great. We will be inspiring all our delegates to leave here renewed in their commitment to work for the well-being of our communities.”
The Moose Jaw convention will feature a roster of national and international speakers, including Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress and Dan Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Iowa council.
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