May 14 – May 18
Mobilizing Mondays – Week Seven
One section of the Ontario budget bill will wipe out public services as we know them. We must mobilize immediately to get Schedule 28 removed!
This section, called the Government Services and Service Providers Act, 2012, opens the door for government to privatize any public service. This would be done behind closed doors, without public accountability and could spell the end of truly public schools and hospitals.
One-minute action –The Act has been overlooked in debate. We must make sure MPPs know why it must be removed from the budget bill.
Visit budget.messageyourmpp.ca to automatically send an email to your MPP. (And forward the link to your friends!)
There is an important new message this week!
Five-minute action – Media need to be told about this dangerous privatization act. Send a letter to the editors of newspapers in your area. The more people who send letters, the more likely editors and reporters are to take notice. Email csaunders@cupe.ca to let us know where you’ve sent letters.
Twenty-minute action – Call a radio or television phone-in show. Tell them you’re concerned that the Government Services and Service Providers Act, 2012, will turn public services into a crate of Ornges! Ask them to make it the theme of a phone-in show (and email csaunders@cupe.ca when you do, so that we can get more information to the station).
Need more information about the budget? Visit cupe.on.ca/budget
Mobilizing Mondays – Week Six
With about two weeks until the final budget vote, this is one of our last chances to get changes made to protect the vital public services that support our communities.
Over the last week, voters in France, Greece and the United Kingdom soundly rejected their governments’ austerity programs. We too can reject the cuts and build our province by insisting that our MPPs vote for growth, not cuts.
Every week, we will send you three simple actions you can take to help protect public services and get Ontario the budget it deserves. Pick one or if you can, please do all three, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
One-minute action – The last week has seen austerity governments fall across Europe. More are expected to fall this week as voters realize the pain isn’t coming with any gain. Visit budget.messageyourmpp.ca to tell your MPP that you are one of the large majority who want good public services, not dangerous cuts. (And follow budget news at cupe.on.ca/budget!)
You can send a new message every week!
Five-minute action – Make an appointment to see your MPP and call Maureen Giuliani at CUPE Ontario (905-739-9739). She can assist you with speaking notes and meeting preparation. Check out the Lobby Kit at http://cupe.on.ca/d1805/budget-2012-lobby-kit
Twenty-minute action – Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. You can use the text at messageyourmpp.ca as a guide, but also highlight effects the cuts will have on your family or your community. In communities that have lost manufacturing jobs, public services provide most of the good jobs and are the backbone of the local economy. Highlight the services that allow you to go to work, such as child care and long-term care, or that allow people to live with dignity. Or focus on school or hospital closures if those are expected in your community. Pick one thing to make the letter personal. If you need help, email Craig Saunders in CUPE communications at csaunders@cupe.ca
Need more information about the budget? Visit cupe.on.ca/budget
Mobilizing Mondays – Week Five
Last week, the Ontario Liberals swung a deal that allowed the budget to pass a key vote.
One important change introduced a new 2% surtax for people making more than $500,000 a year. That’s something almost every Ontarian agreed is an important step in preserving the vital public services on which our communities rely.
But the government said it will not use the new revenue to avoid cuts. What they’ve left us with is a budget that increases taxes, but at the same time kills jobs, cuts public services and hurts communities.
The good news is that the budget is not a done deal. There is still time for us to win amendments that will preserve public services. We all need to tell our MPPs the budget must change.
Every week, we will send you three simple actions you can take to help protect public services and get Ontario the budget it deserves. If you can, please do all three, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
One-minute action –Ontarians do not agree with the government’s budget cuts, and Liberal voters are some of the most unhappy. Visit budget.messageyourmpp.ca to let your MPP know that you are one of the large majority who want good public services. (And check out the poll results at cupe.on.ca/budget!)
You can send a new message every week!
Five-minute action – Make an appointment to see your MPP and call Maureen Giuliani at CUPE Ontario (905-739-9739). She can assist you with speaking notes and meeting preparation.
Check out the Lobby Kit at http://cupe.on.ca/d1805/budget-2012-lobby-kit
Twenty-minute action – Fax Dwight Duncan. Follow this link to a template fax that you can send to the finance minister. But don’t just send yours, get your co-workers to fill in their information and send 10, 20, 100 or more!
Need more information about the budget? Visit cupe.on.ca/budget
Whack ‘Em Wednesday – Week Four
On Monday, the Ontario Liberals swung a deal that allowed the budget to pass a key vote.
Because so much was changing, CUPE Ontario decided to delay our weekly Mobilizing Mondays email until today.
As a result, here is Whack ‘Em Wednesday. We need to whack the MPPs with the message that the budget still isn’t good enough for Ontario.
The budget will kill jobs, cut public services and hurt communities. The budget is not a done deal. There is still time for us to win amendments that will preserve the vital public services on which every Ontarian relies, every day. We need to add our voice by telling all MPPs the budget must change.
Every week, we will send you three simple actions you can take to help protect public services and get Ontario the budget it deserves. If you can, please do all three, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
One-minute action– Friend your MPP on Facebook. Then write a status update about the budget. If you use @ and your MPP’s name, they’ll be alerted to your message.
Sample message: Budget amendments are chump change. Still waiting for a budget that protects services and programs in my community. [Better yet, point to a program you or your family rely on that’s being attacked]
Five-minute action– Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Say that you support increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations, but only to preserve quality public services. If it’s published, let CUPE Ontario know at info@cupe.on.ca
Twenty-minute action– Make an appt to see your MPP and call Maureen Giuliani at CUPE Ontario (905-739-9739), who assist with speaking notes and meeting preparation.
Need more information about the budget? Visit cupe.on.ca/budget
