Media Advisory - Kingston to host "The Rich and the Rest of Us" forum

Event:	Town hall meeting
Date:	Monday, June 10, 2013
Time:	6:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
	Buffet supper 5:30 p.m.
Place:	Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Sailroom, 53 Yonge St., Kingston

TORONTO, June 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Leaders of several provincial unions have invited their members and community representatives to take part in a forum on jobs, inequality, and the future of Ontario. The forum is similar to one held earlier this year in Sudbury. 

"We're asking people to talk about how rising inequality affects them, their families, and communities," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). "Rising inequality is the most serious issue facing working people and those living in poverty." 

'The Rich and the Rest of Us' forum in Kingston is part of  'All Together Now', a campaign by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). It aims to turn around the damage done to public services and workers' rights, and to implement a fair tax system and industrial strategy to create and maintain good jobs. 

"Wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few to the detriment of others, and pressure is growing for elected officials to take action," said NUPGE President James Clancy. 

Panelists are: 
James Clancy, President, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE);
Jamie Swift, writer, activist, and lecturer for Queen's School of Business; and,
Marijana Matovic, community development & Kingston Community Health Centres. 

Participating unions and their elected leaders:
Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, Sam Hammond

Ontario Nurses' Association, Linda Haslam-Stroud

Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, Mark McKinnon 

Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Warren (Smokey) Thomas

Society of Energy Professionals, Scott Travers 

SOURCE: OPSEU

Sheila Keenan, OPSEU, 416.802.1251
Deb Duffy, NUPGE, 613-709-0382
www.richandtherestofus.org
www.alltogethernow.nupge.ca