Global unions launch campaign to defend public services

Nupge News

In the face of mounting threats to public services around the world, the Council of Global Unions is launching a campaign to defend and promote the value of public services.  

Ottawa (23 June 2011) – The Council of Global Unions, an organization that represents 175 million workers around the world, is launching the worldwide Quality Public Services—Action Now! campaign today. The aim is to advance public services for all people through unprecedented coordinated action across borders.

From Canada to the Middle East, Europe to Asia, South America to Africa, the United States to the Pacific Rim – private and public sector unions are uniting to defend the quality public services that support families and keep communities strong.

“When we look around the world today, we find peace and improved equality and opportunity only in countries where strong public services provide equitable redistribution of wealth, protect democracy and deliver security, justice and decent work,” Council of Global Unions chair Peter Waldorff said.
NUPGE is a proud and active affiliate of Public Services International which is a member of the Council of Global Unions.

“NUPGE strongly supports this important campaign,” said James Clancy, NUPGE national president. "It’s crucial that people around the world work together to promote public services and tax fairness as the best way to build an equitable and sustainable economy and improve the quality of life for everyone - not just a selected few,” said Clancy.

NUPGE has been running a national campaign in Canada for the last year called All Together Now! The campaign promotes investment in public services as a key solution to the economic crisis and improving living standards for all families.

The campaign also promotes the need for tax fairness by calling for an end to the shifting of taxes from corporations and the super-rich to working families.