MEDIA RELEASE: Union Launches Campaign Against Public Service Cuts, Privatization

The NSGEU has launched a new campaign designed to raise awareness of the consequences of privatization and service cuts from the provincial Liberal government.

“Stephen McNeil didn’t campaign on making massive cuts or privatizing, but so far, his Liberal government has closed rural courthouses, visitor information centres and land registry offices, and cut funding to non-profit groups, new graduates and the film industry,” said NSGEU President Joan Jessome.

“There’s now a real possibility they will move on to privatize our land and motor vehicle registry, the registry of joint stocks, and hospital food services, and there’s still a possibility that they will further contract out our home care services.”

Nova Scotians do not support this government selling off its’ public services. They work hard, pay their taxes, and deserve to get good public services in return.

“People understand that when a government privatizes a service, it hands over responsibility for ensuring we all receive quality services to a company that answers first and foremost to its own shareholders. We’ve seen that very clearly with Nova Scotia Power,” Jessome added.

Instead of reinvesting revenues back into community services and local economies, profits are taken out of Nova Scotia, and we lose good jobs in the process.

The “McNeil’s Movers” campaign includes a 30-second television advertisement, website and social media component (#McNeilsMovers). NSGEU members and members of the public are encouraged to visit the site, find out more about what’s at stake, sign a petition and even upload a photo and share it to their own social media accounts.

“It’s fitting that we are kicking off this campaign on Labour Day, a day where we celebrate the sacrifices and accomplishments made by Canadian workers,” said Jessome,

“Nova Scotians need to work together to protect the public services we all rely upon, as well as the rights and benefits that have been won by workers over the years.”

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The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union represents over 30,000 women and men who provide quality public services Nova Scotian’s count on every day.

For more information, please contact:

Deedee Slye, NSGEU Communications Officer

902.424.4063 (office)

902.497.6761 (cell)

dslye@nsgeu.ca