Canadas National Unemployment Clock Campaign Set to Raise Alarm in Montreal

Vancouver, B.C. – The National Unemployment Clock will be in Montreal at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009 on the corner of St. Denis and St. Catherine streets. The campaign, which is sponsored by the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU), was developed to raise awareness across Canada about the dangers of allowing large international corporations—such as TELUS—to continue to offshore Canadian jobs. This practice is a strong contributor to the unemployment crisis this country is facing. This is the first time there has been a National Unemployment Clock in Canada. The National Unemployment Clock will be in Montreal May 8 and 9 and will appear at local landmarks, community events and spots around the city, asking for people to come out and lend their voice in support of this campaign to keep jobs in Canada. The National Unemployment Clock, which offers a real-time count of job loss in Canada, is mounted on a truck and will wind its way from Ottawa, where it began its journey on Parliament Hill on May 6, through Canada, ending up in Vancouver. The truck will stop in cities and towns along the way and will where street teams will hand out information brochures, buttons and bumper stickers, and ask citizens to sign a petition which will be forwarded to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Labour Rona Ambrose. “This campaign is about keeping jobs in Canada,” said Diane Pepin, TWU Representative. We are very concerned about large corporations, such as TELUS, who continue to eliminate jobs in Canada and move them to overseas locations. We want the government to hear from real people who are being affected by unemployment and the offshoring of jobs. It is time for us to come together as Canadians and say enough is enough.” The campaign’s website, www.keepjobsincanada.ca, features an online petition, ways to get involved, contact information for local Members of Parliament, statistics and facts on unemployment in Canada, the ongoing issue of allowing large corporations to offshore jobs, the campaign travel schedule, as well as an interactive “Track the Truck” map following the road show – using GPS technology. About the TWU The TWU has a long and proud history of representing communications workers and workers in related fields. We strive to negotiate collective agreements that promote fair wages as well as just and equitable treatment for all. At the TWU, we believe that member participation and input is essential to the successful operation of the organization. The TWU has more than 65 years of experience in dealing with employers and providing services to its members, protecting and improving their wages, benefits and working conditions. We invite member participation at every level of our organization through a democratic process that encourages two-way communication between members and elected officers. The TWU has built a reputation for guarding the principles which maintain the integrity of the labour movement and which encourage commitment and activism. Please visit our website at www.twu-stt.ca.

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