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CUPE Locals 79 and 416, City of Toronto inside and outside workers, continue to fight against privatization of services for Toronto residents.

We need to fight for the communities, the middle class and all those who rely on the great work our members perform every day,” says CUPE 416 president Mark Ferguson.

Both locals are running campaigns to protect public services threatened by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s agenda of cuts and privatization. Local 416 has an online petition to keep services public and CUPE 79’s website features a page where visitors can vote for public services.

A review of city spending by KPMG has found that “most city money is spent on either core city services or provincially-mandated programs” according to an article in the National Post yesterday. The review was ordered by Ford who told reporters at the Globe and Mail on Tuesday that there are “too many employees down at City Hall.”

Ann Dembinski, Local 79 president says that the report is all about downsizing services that Torontonians want and are willing to pay for.

The people of this City spoke loud and clear in the public consultations – they want public services,” said Dembinski.  “This is the Ford ideology – cut, cut, cut.  It doesn’t matter if the cuts make sense or even save money.”