City Union Rejects Buy-Out – Would Lead to Service Cuts

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – July 13, 2011) – During the election campaign Rob Ford declared time and again that he would not reduce or cut services — but his latest scheme, the Voluntary Separation Program, means that for every buy-out there will be a service reduction.

“Every time a worker leaves a City job, it’s guaranteed that public services will be affected,” says Ann Dembinski, President of Local 79, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

“The Mayor should be trying to find a way to protect the services that the people of this City have said they want – not shrinking the workforce to the point where these much-needed services can no longer be provided.

“When the Mayor took office there was a surplus of over $300 million, and he then proceeded to drain the reserve accounts. But now the Mayor is crying poor, and the citizens of Toronto are all losing valuable services. The Mayor is taking this City in the wrong direction,” says Dembinski.

Dana Boettger

Research/Communications

CUPE Local 79

416.977.1629 extension 247