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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