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TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - The victory by Wayne Gates to become the new NDP MPP for Niagara Falls was a reflection of his hard work over the years to build a strong community with stable jobs, those who know him best say.
"Wayne is a hard worker. He's always been respected as a community leader," Larry Greenhalgh, secretary-treasurer of Unifor Local 199, said.
As a member of city council, through his efforts with the United Way, as president of Local 199 and more, Gates has worked for decades to make Niagara a better place to live and raise children for all, Greenhalgh said. That means good, stable jobs, good schools and hospitals and bringing all the stakeholders in the community together to achieve those goals.
"That's what Wayne is known for in this community, he's dedicated his life to it," he said. "And on election night, that's what the voters responded to."
The results are also a clear rejection of Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak's campaign to turn the clock back on labour legislation in the province. Voters, instead, chose a positive message of working as a community towards common goals.
Unions are a key part of building better communities, Greenhalgh said, because they stand up for the working class and the programs and policies that make life better for all. The voters of Niagara know that, as will voters across Ontario when the next province-wide election comes.
Unifor Local 199 represents about 2,500 workers in the Niagara area, many in the auto industry. Unifor was founded on Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Autoworkers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.
SOURCE Unifor
