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PRINCE GEORGE Keep PG Strong is the theme of a new campaign being launched this week to raise the profile of the citys CUPE workers in the wake of a summer binge of anti-public sector law-making by the new Liberal government.

We know that our members are the communitys greatest asset, keeping it strong and prosperous, said Kevin McConnachie, CUPE Local 399 (outside), and Lana Keim, CUPE Local 1048 (inside). Our campaign will help the community know it too.

The campaign was being planned before city council announced plans to contract out public services through its service delivery strategy. But this strategy is a prime example of how our communities can be weakened by hasty political decisions, McConnachie said.

An employer-sponsored survey found that 75 per cent of the people of Prince George highly approve of the services we provide, Keim added. They dont want them cut.

The new campaign includes a leaflet and ads that invite the public to match the worker to the public service as they appear in an illustration. Beside each city workers job title is a note about how their work makes PG strong, clean and safe.

We are working for you 24 hours a day, the copy says. We pick up your garbage and keep the streets clean, safe and clear of snow. We ensure that the drinking water is safe. We maintain city parks. We look after stray pets.

We hope to engage the public in a positive process of becoming more aware of the home-grown public services that we all enjoy, McConnachie said. Our campaign is designed to help our community stay strong by supporting those services not severing them, Keim added.

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Contact: Kevin McConnachie, 250-961-1196; Lana Keim, 250-561-7656.