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CUPE PEI members are taking action against the privatization of the province’s waste management.

CUPE members, including members of Local 501 who collect some Charlottetown garbage, will pressure the government to withdraw plans to privatize all aspects of garbage collection. The same company will own the garbage collection and control the landfill.

“Public sector workers have collected Charlottetown’s yard, furniture and building material waste for 40 years,” says CUPE National Representative Bill McKinnon. “But under the province’s plan many Island residents would also be charged a new user fee for garbage collection on top of the tax they already pay for waste disposal.”

Local 501 even has the support of its employer, the City of Charlottetown, its partner in a joint committee whose first step is a meeting with PEI Premier Pat Binns and his environment minister. A public campaign is also in the works.