Union locals
hold bake sales to raise funds for MNR
NORTH
BAY/HEARST/TIMMINS – Union locals in Hearst, North Bay,
and Timmins will hold bake sales Dec. 14 to help raise
money for their employer, the Ministry of Natural
Resources.
“The purpose of these events is to illustrate, in a
humourous way, just how desperate the situation is for
the MNR in northern Ontario,” said Dave Fluri, a steward
with Local 635 of the Ontario Public Service Employees
Union. “It’s pretty sad when a ministry of the Ontario
government can’t even afford to put gas in its
vehicles.”
The events are part of the union’s “Save the MNR”
campaign to protest budget cuts to ministry operations.
Union members in the MNR are wearing black every
Thursday, signing petitions for presentation in the
Legislature, and meeting with local MPPs.
Operating funds for the MNR are down over $25 million
for 2006-07, a cut of more than five per cent, in real
terms, from 2005-06. The cuts have reduced park
staffing, curtailed fish and wildlife enforcement,
reduced public oversight of industry, and forced many
MNR offices to close their doors to the public.
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For local
details, please contact:
Dave
Fluri, OPSEU Local 635, North Bay (705) 494-6791
Lynn Alary, OPSEU Local 638, Hearst (705) 372-2223
Jim Finnigan, OPSEU Local 649, Timmins (705)
235-1333
