CUPE delegation at World Water Forum in France to fight privatization and forge alliances
March 13, 2012 at 8:18 PM
CUPE delegates to the World Water Forum and the Alternative World Water Forum (FAME), taking place in Marseille, France March 12-17, 2012, met with other public sector union delegates Monday to plan strategy to promote public water and discredit the corporate Water Forum (WWF6), which has become little more than a trade show for privatization and big water corporations.
“We are here to gather information and work on strategies to push back on the privatization of water,” said NEB member and president of CUPE 500 Mike Davidson, of Manitoba. “In my home province, we have Veolia trying to get their ankle in the door on waste water, and we’ve got to work together with all our allies to keep our services public.”
CUPE delegates also attended side meetings with civil service organizations and the global justice movement, where representatives from governments were invited to hear our call for a more democratic and legitimate water forum that should replace the World Water Forum and be under the auspices of the United Nations.
“I represent activists and municipal water workers who know the importance of growing the grassroots, and increasing participation in our campaigns,” said Cindy McQueen, president of CUPE 389 and a general vice-president of CUPE BC. “Forging alliances and working with activists from around the world we can make a difference and build a much broader grassroots coalition.”
CUPE has opposed every World Water Forum since 2000. The forum is controlled by the world‘s largest water corporations, is unaccountable and lacks the transparency vital to decision-making about the world’s water resources and services.
As the union representing most of Canada’s water and wastewater workers, CUPE will bring its perspective on a variety of key topics to the events.
