Toronto New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader, Howard Hampton, will be in Toronto Friday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m., at Toronto’s Sheraton Centre, to address more than 600 union and community activists from across Ontario who are attending a landmark conference focused on political action strategies for the upcoming provincial, municipal, and school elections.
The ’We Can Make A Difference’ conference, organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Ontario), is the first time in the union’s 40-year history that a special forum aimed at election strategies and direct community and campaign political action, has been convened.
With more than 200, 000 members who work for hospitals, utilities, school boards, municipalities, universities, long-term care facilities, and social service agencies, CUPE is the largest union in the province.
“We (CUPE) have immense voter clout, and in the upcoming elections, we can make a difference. And this conference is about using that clout, and implementing political action strategies that will influence the outcome of elections. It means more grassroots CUPE involvement in political campaigns, and yes, even fielding CUPE candidates in ridings and communities province-wide,” says CUPE Ontario president Sid Ryan, who himself is the NDP candidate in the Oshawa riding.
The NDP platform that firmly opposes the privatization of public services, like hydro, hospitals and schools, and calls for a re-investment in municipal infrastructure and in social services, is one that CUPE members can support, adds Ryan.
Barry O’Neill, CUPE British Columbia (B.C.) President, and member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) - the community alliance that fielded and elected progressive candidates in the recent municipal and school board elections in B.C. - will also address the conference delegates on Friday morning.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Sid Ryan, President CUPE Ontario
(416) 209-0066
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
(416) 578-8774
The ’We Can Make A Difference’ conference, organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Ontario), is the first time in the union’s 40-year history that a special forum aimed at election strategies and direct community and campaign political action, has been convened.
With more than 200, 000 members who work for hospitals, utilities, school boards, municipalities, universities, long-term care facilities, and social service agencies, CUPE is the largest union in the province.
“We (CUPE) have immense voter clout, and in the upcoming elections, we can make a difference. And this conference is about using that clout, and implementing political action strategies that will influence the outcome of elections. It means more grassroots CUPE involvement in political campaigns, and yes, even fielding CUPE candidates in ridings and communities province-wide,” says CUPE Ontario president Sid Ryan, who himself is the NDP candidate in the Oshawa riding.
The NDP platform that firmly opposes the privatization of public services, like hydro, hospitals and schools, and calls for a re-investment in municipal infrastructure and in social services, is one that CUPE members can support, adds Ryan.
Barry O’Neill, CUPE British Columbia (B.C.) President, and member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) - the community alliance that fielded and elected progressive candidates in the recent municipal and school board elections in B.C. - will also address the conference delegates on Friday morning.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Sid Ryan, President CUPE Ontario
(416) 209-0066
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
(416) 578-8774