HALIFAX Things are going to get worse for Premier John Hamm before they get better unless his Conservative Government backs off plans to cut essential public services.
Thats according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Nova Scotia, whose 90 executive leaders from across the province met in Halifax this weekend to hammer out a strategy to fight cuts the Tories introduced in their recent budget.
“Weve been savaged by the John Savage government, weve been rustled by Russell McLennan and now were being Hamm-strung,” says Betty Jean Sutherland, president of CUPE Nova Scotia. “These cuts didnt work under the last three governments and they wont work now. Were going to lose hospital beds, a lack of maintenance will result in school closures and travelling our roads and highways will become more dangerous.”
“Premier Hamm, your honeymoon with the electorate is over,” says CUPE Regional Director Roger Neeley, in his message to the premier. “We will fight until your government reverses its decision on these absurd cuts and restores the money the public-sector needs to maintain vital services.”
CUPE Nova Scotia is determined to protect public services. Members will be gathering detailed information on what services will be cut and who will be laid off in each community across the province. With this information they will mount a full-scale public information drive and will confront the Conservative MLAs who voted in favour of this budget.
Hamm better not get too comfy in that premiers chair,” says Sutherland. “Were going to fight for as long as it takes, as hard as it takes to unseat the premier and his Conservative Government. We want to make sure that he feels the same uncertainty about his future as our members feel as a result of this slash-and-burn budget.”
For more information, please contact:
Betty Jean Sutherland in New Glasgow
(902) 396-5429
Roger Neeley, Atlantic Regional Director (902) 455-4180