Bread and Butter tour features two P.E.I. meetings

Charlottetown (15 June 2009) - The P.E.I. Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE) is holding two meetings this week to gather feedback on the current economic crisis.

The meetings are part of a tour organized by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) in cooperation with its Component unions across the country. The tour is called the Cut Me A Slice Bread and Butter Tour - A people's response to the economic crisis.

Ordinary Canadians of all political leanings are invited to attend and present their opinions on how best to respond to the challenges facing the country on how to handle the current economic crisis. Forums, meetings and town hall gatherings are being held in all parts of Canada.

When the tour concludes, NUPGE will compile all the material from across the country into a report that will be presented to federal, provincial and local governments.

The P.E.I. meetings were announced by Shelley Ward, PEIUPSE president. They will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, at the Miscouche Recreation Centre and at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at MacIans in Georgetown.

"The purpose of this campaign is to offer everyday Canadians an opportunity to have a say on what they feel needs to be done to help us through these difficult economic times," says Ward.

"The politicians and policy makers need to hear from Canadians and find out how exactly they are being affected and what can be done to help them through this economic downturn," she adds.

"Our national union ... has organized this campaign with the assistance of all its provincially-based unions because we feel this is a way we can assist individuals to have a voice at a national level."

"Politicians from all levels of government as well as business leaders have been invited to attend," says Ward. "We hope Islanders will take advantage of this opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas and send a message to those in a position to change things."