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TORONTO, September 17 – The fight to save the jobs of 41 city cleaners takes to the streets later this week as CUPE Local 79 stages its first-ever “Video Vigil” in front of City Hall beginning Thursday, September 18th.

The Video Vigil features highlights from the September 4th Administration Committee meeting, which ended in deadlock on the contracting-out issue. Speakers on the video include several city cleaners who are at risk of losing their jobs at Toronto Police Services’ facilities to make way for low wage contracted cleaners. Many “live” cleaners will also be present to talk to members of the public and hand out leaflets.

“Our members spoke from the heart two weeks ago,” said CUPE Local 79 President Ann Dembinski. “Since three Councillors refused to listen, we thought we’d offer them a second chance to hear why this contracting out is such a bad idea.”

The union is also taking out ads in several community newspapers highlighting the issue. Half-page ads in the York Guardian, Etobicoke Weekender and Scarborough Mirror are targeted to reach constituents of the three Councillors on the Committee who voted to contract out this work: Frances Nunziata, Doug Holyday and David Soknacki. An additional ad is also running in Now.

More than 1,600 police have signed petitions against this contracting out, concerned that a revolving door of low-wage contract cleaners will compromise the security of their police stations.

The Video Vigil will take place Thursday, September 18th, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 22-24 from 8am to 4 pm. (The Vigil will not be set up on Friday in anticipation of bad weather.)

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For more information, contact:

David Robbins
CUPE Communications
647 286 1431 (cell)

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