Act now to shape our future, Clancy urges NUPGE

'Reject the status quo dog-eat-dog fundamentalism and join the ranks of those who yearn for a future that recognizes the value of using our common wealth for the common good' - NUPGE Convention 2010

Vancouver (18 June 2010) – The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), which represents more than 340,000 public and private sector workers across the country, opened its 2010 convention today with a rousing appeal from National President James Clancy.

The three-day convention began this morning in Vancouver and runs until the close of business on Sunday, June 20.

Clancy’s opening remarks highlighted the main convention theme that NUPGE and its members from across the country can and must work 'all together now' to change the course of history to match our values and vision.

“We want to position ourselves so that we can join millions upon millions of people around the world who have had enough of the status quo. We are tired of policies that continue to enrich the few while making the lives of many more stressful and perilous.

"We have a simple and profound belief that the pursuit of our common good enables us to achieve a good greater than we can ever achieve alone," said Clancy. "It is a philosophy that we as trade unionists, embrace. It stands in stark contrast to the dog-eat-dog, survival of the fi,ttest ideology, the blind and mistaken belief in market fundamentalism."

He highlighted several policy directions that the convention will debate, including a national campaign for NUPGE and its Components designed to promote the value of public services, defend public employees and make the case for greater tax fairness in Canada.

Clancy made a strong case that Canada needs to steer away from Stephen Harper's conservative view of the future and that trade unionists and other progressives can and should lead the way.

''The financiers, the bankers, the corporate barons, the wealthiest of the wealthiest and the governments they call their friends have made it quite clear about the future they have in store for us. The question we need to answer at this convention is will we shape the future or will we be pushed around by it.  I think it's time for us to do the pushing."

Delegates will debate key policy papers and some 80 resolutions to set the course of the union for the next three years.

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

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