“We surpassed even our own expectations in ensuring accountability for the finances of the union. We made history in the streets, at the bargaining table, in the courts, in arbitration, and even within the confines of our own administration." - Carol Furlong, NAPE president.
St. John's (21 June 2011) - Carol Furlong, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) received several resounding rounds of applause from delegates during her fiery, 35-minute address that was followed by a powerful standing ovation. In the speech, Furlong reflected on NAPE’s history, discussed attacks on unions and unionized workers, massive tax breaks for multibillion dollar corporations and their CEOs and the negative impact these cuts have on working and poor Canadians.
Furlong told delegates that if the Harper government would stop giving cuts to the banks and oil companies, it could eliminate the federal deficit without cutting public services, such as the Marine Search and Rescue Centre in Newfoundland. She spoke of upcoming negotiations and concerns regarding the job evaluation system, warning the provincial government that if the job evaluation system was not objective and fair to members, NAPE/NUPGE would resist with force.
“We surpassed even our own expectations in ensuring accountability for the finances of the union. We made history in the streets, at the bargaining table, in the courts, in arbitration, and even within the confines of our own administration," said Furlong.
Delegates also heard from Larry Brown, national secretary-treasurer of the National Union of Public and General Employess (NUPGE) who thanked them for their steadfast commitment to building solidarity within the labour movement, especially at a time when we are facing serious challenges. He noted that public services and public sector unions were under attack in the US and that the ripple effects of that US attack were already visible here, with increasingly hostile anti-union rhetoric and anti-union legislation from the Harper government in the Air Canada and Canada Post disputes.
He concluded by highlighting the tremendous efforts of the union's All Together Now! Champions 4 Change and their fight for tax fairness and quality public services. "We must challenge the tax cut agenda because without tax fairness, right wing governments will continue to argue that they can't afford public services, when in fact, with sensible tax fairness, we could easily afford a strong public sector," said Brown.
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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