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TORONTO, May 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's largest union in the private sector will be participating in two rallies this week outside consultations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as the federal government's trade committee visits Windsor and Toronto.
"Unifor believes in trade. We believe in trade that improves the lives of all Canadians and that protects public services," said Roland Kiehne, Unifor's Director of Member Mobilization and Political Action.
"Trade deals should never stand in the way of any government to pass laws in the interests of its own citizens."
The federal Standing Committee on International Trade will visit Windsor on Thursday and Toronto on Friday.
Similar hearings held last month in western provinces offered few opportunities for Canadians to speak out, so rallies are being held outside this week's hearings to offer more people the chance to speak out. The Parallel People's Trade Hearings will give voice to those whose lives will be affected by the TPP, but cannot get into the hearings themselves.
"Our new government has said it wants to hear from as many Canadians as possible, so we will make sure more voices are heard than can get into the hearings themselves," Kiehne said.
In Windsor, Unifor will be participating in a rally organized by the Windsor and District Labour Council. In Toronto, Unifor is coordinating efforts and will be joined by several other concerned organizations.
Windsor Rally:
- WHAT: Windsor and District Labour Council rally about the TPP
- WHERE: Best Western Plus Waterfront Hotel, 277 Riverside Drive West, Windsor
- WHEN: Thursday, May 12, 10am
Toronto Rally:
- WHAT: Parallel People's Trade Hearings
- WHERE: Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 181 Wellington Street West, Toronto
- WHEN: Friday, May 13, 10am
For more information about the TPP, visit unifor.org/tpp for English, and unifor.org/ptp for French.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.
SOURCE Unifor
