Newly crowned Liberal leader Paul Martin has received an open letter from CUPEs national officers, urging him to protect public medicare, improve funding to municipalities, allow municipal workers to deliver federally funded infrastructure programs, ensure pension funds arent used to privatize public services, and protect public services from international trade deals.
These were some of the major concerns delegates expressed at our national convention, says National President Paul Moist. The federal government is the major player in many of the areas that concern us most, including health care, pensions and infrastructure. The new prime minister needs to hear from CUPE members on these issues.
The letter, printed in the Hill-Times, an Ottawa weekly widely read by MPs and lobbyists, sets the stage for important lobby work in the months ahead. Given Martins record of slashing social spending and supporting P3s, its crucial that we continue to press for action on these key issues, says National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Gnreux.
While congratulating Martin on his new job, the letter warns that, Half a million public service workers will be watching.
The full letter can be found at: http://cupe.ca/www/57/lettertopaulmartin