(Truro) - As a union we are often seen speaking out about public services and the need to keep them from being privatized. For instance, we recently commented on the election of a new president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).
One reporter asked why our union cared about this issue and why a union would want to comment on it. I was asked to respond to the fact that we were just worried about our members’ jobs. No matter which sector our members work in, we make no apologies for caring about and fighting to protect the services we provide in our communities.
Dr. Brian Day’s election as head of the CMA is seen by many as an ideological shift to someone who will push privatization of health care.
As Canadians, we inherently understand that we all will have health care needs as families and individuals at some point in our lives. I have first hand experience, having had one of my children as a patient in the IWK Intensive Care Unit, many years ago. Thank goodness our family did not have to worry about whether we could “afford” these critical services.
As Canada’s largest union - with 550,000 members across Canada and 16,000 here in Nova Scotia - CUPE is proud of the role we play in fighting for public services for Canadians.
For information:
Danny Cavanagh
President, CUPE N.S.
(902) 957-0822 (Cell)
John McCracken
CUPE Communications Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (o)