This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
"From Newfoundland to B.C, we are all affected by government and corporate decisions which have a negative impact on our lives," Clancy says. "The upside is that by working together, by putting our energy into action, we have the strength and resolve to change the direction of our country. We can make a difference for generations to come. And we will." — James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Ottawa (24 April 2014) —The popular traveling road show focusing on income inequality is revving its engines for another leg of its cross-Canada tour on income inequality.
National Fairness Express bus tour builds on the momentum from Atlantic Canada to push across the country
The All Together Now! campaign launched its Fairness Express national tour in September 2013. Over six weeks, the bus traveled across four provinces talking to Atlantic Canadians about the impact of income inequality on their lives, their families and their community. People shared moving stories about how frustrated they are to see decisions being made about extracting our natural resources instead of building jobs at home. They talked about how after years of hard work, they are picking up the pieces after a layoff, only to have to work several part-time jobs to make ends meet. But they also talked about the resolve and spirit of their communities to overcome any challenges, and how by working together they can make positive change for each other.
The national tour will now focus on the rest of the country, visiting small and large communities from Ontario to British Columbia
"We are looking forward to seeing the rest of the country and talking to Canadians about the issues they are facing," says James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), which is sponsoring the tour. "When we share conversations about how the last several years have been for people since the 2008 recession, we hear about how people are struggling," Clancy said. "We hear how middle class wages are not keeping up, but it seems the rich keep getting farther ahead.
"When we talk to people about why this is all happening, people see the connection between the issues. Tax fairness would provide essential resources to improve the public services that families rely on from one end of the country to the other. Good jobs allow people to improve their lives, invest in the community and play a part in the economy. Strong labour rights stop employers from not providing people with what they need to care for themselves and their families, now and in the future.
Follow the bus: ATN Fairness Express tours Ontario from May 1 until June 22
Now the Fairness Express is hitting the road across Ontario to visit other communities to share the message that there are solutions to income inequality. The big green bus will bring its fun-filled, carnival atmosphere to some surprising locations — parades, yard sales, campuses, festivals and beaches! The tour's goal is to reach out to as many Canadians as possible to inspire them to help change what is taking place in our country.
"People are frustrated and looking for ways to act, to make a difference," continues Clancy. "Our All Together Now! campaign has been providing people a way to do that for over four years now. Now, with the Fairness Express, they can see how we are building this grassroots movement for fairness right in their own community."
"It's all connected," says Clancy. "And people can see that when we work together - like we did when we forced governments to create health and safety and labour laws, the CPP, and health care - it has made a difference."
We are all in this together
"What a national tour like this demonstrates is that people are not alone in their struggles. From Newfoundland to B.C, we are all affected by government and corporate decisions which have a negative impact on our lives," Clancy says. "The upside is that by working together, by putting our energy into action, we have the strength and resolve to change the direction of our country. We can make a difference for generations to come. And we will."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE