our allies are achieving terrific successes defending public services. CUPE’s collective power and capacity to win are growing. Now almost 600,000 members strong, we cannot underestimate our ability to reverse the tide of privatization.
Not one moment of the day was lost and we were brought to visit one labour group after another to bring solidarity greetings and to listen to their concerns. We met with government officials, the ambassador to Columbia, human rights organizations and with an incredible nongovernment organization supported by our union and CUPE British Columbia – NOMADESC – the Association for Social Research and Action, a human rights organization that works to educate, defend and build social alternatives in South Western Columbia.
Reports from across the country prove that the privatization fightback initiative kicked off by the 2007 national convention is paying off. New materials and better informed members and staff about public private partnerships and contracting-out are only a few positive indicators. Moving into the next two years, privatization issues should be front and centre once again. The $5 million dedicated to the privatization fightback must be renewed, retaining the approach of redistributing most of it through regional campaigns.
Their executive director is Berenice Celeyta, a human rights activist and an educator. She has been a human rights defender for over 20 years, and I can attest that she is intensely passionate about her convictions and the work she does on behalf of the people of Columbia. Sister Berenice was recognized for her outstanding work, in 1988, with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. She has also been the target of death threats and harassment, and credits national and international solidarity for allowing her to remain in Columbia and continue her work despite ongoing serious threats.
Some concrete successes of the past two years thanks to CUPE campaigns working in coalition with others include:
P3 proposals for Whistler and Saint John wastewater treatment proposals were cancelled. A P3 proposal to take over P.E.I.’s manors (long-term care facilities) was cancelled.
Following Sister Berenice Celeyta’s address, Brother Paul Moist thanked her and presented her with a gift.
The City of St. John’s outside workers brought the fire hydrant flushing and maintenance services back inhouse.
NATIONAL CONTRACTING-OUT AND PRIVATIZATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE REPORT
A workers’ rehab center in Grand Bay, New-Brunswick will not be sold or leased as proposed. HSCC will remain public under the auspices of WorkSafeNB and all present jobs are secure.
The members of the committee are: Mike MacIsaac, cochair, Nova Scotia; Sandra Seitz, co-chair, Saskatchewan; Dawn Lahey, Newfoundland and Labrador; Wanda Livingstone and Blaine Parkman, Prince Edward Island; Wayne Burns and Andrew Hardy, New Brunswick; Pierre Soucy, Québec; Brian Madden and Tim Maguire, Ontario; Mike Davidson and Gerry Flood, Manitoba; Joyce E. Baker, Alberta; Carolae Donoghue and Cindy McQueen, British Columbia; Donisa Bernardo and Ken Robinson, Hospital Employees’ Union, British Columbia; Daniel Légère, NEB Liaison; and Corina Crawley, staff advisor.
Thanks to an effective public education and media campaign, the City of Regina hockey rinks and other recreation facilities will remain open despite a threatening report from consultants that recommended closure of four rinks and put other facilities at risk. Plans for four new P3 high schools in Alberta have been cancelled and will be paid for by the province.
“video presentation” Introduction
In B.C.’s Lower Mainland, the City of Port Moody is bringing garbage collection back in house because of poor service by a private contractor.
CUPE has been the key opponent of privatization in Canada for over a decade and CUPE’s National Contracting-Out and Privatization Coordinating Committee is the longest standing of our national committees. We are honoured to continue to support and strengthen the tireless work of CUPE members in defense of the quality public services we all deliver.
It should come as no surprise that privatization is losing ground. Auditors General and independent accountants are all finding the same thing – P3s are a bad deal for taxpayers – they increase costs, reduce quality and introduce secrecy and lack of transparency. The evidence is clear: P3s and contracting out do not work for communities. None of us can do it alone.
Public services are not safe in the hands of current governments, but despite the ongoing pressure, CUPE and
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