OTTAWA, Oct. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - With just one week until the Canadian Federation of Students' (CFS) November 2 national day of action for free education, students are announcing the support of 83 labour unions, civil society organizations and community groups.
"Students have been there for us on the picket lines and in our campaigns to defend public services," said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. "This historic cooperation demonstrates the urgent need for action, and our success will showcase the strength of our movements' unity. I will be there on November 2 to demand free education now. It's long overdue."
"As students, we are motivated and lifted up by the support of so many community organizations, civil society groups and labour partners," said Bilan Arte, CFS National Chairperson. "After decades of damage to post-secondary education in Canada, our time has come."
Combined, the CFS, unions, and community groups represent over 4 million students, workers and people who are calling for the elimination of tuition fees and universal access to public, post-secondary education in Canada.
"Sky-rocketing tuition fees continue to strangle the next generation and families with life-long debt. It's time to put tax dollars to work for public post-secondary education," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "By taking action and uniting for one clear priority - free education now - students and workers can improve the lives of working people and families right across the country."
"This is about envisioning a better world, and building it together," said Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. "I stand with students to build a Canada that upholds human rights, invests in strong public services and ensures equal opportunity for all people."
In Germany, the broad-based 'Alliance Against Tuition Fees', comprised of hundreds of students' unions, trade unions, and political parties, won the elimination of tuition fees for all students.
To date, the CFS national Day of Action has been endorsed by:
The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest students organization, representing more that 650,000 college and university students across the country in the demand for high-quality, publically funded post-secondary education.
SOURCE Canadian Federation of Students
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"Students have been there for us on the picket lines and in our campaigns to defend public services," said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. "This historic cooperation demonstrates the urgent need for action, and our success will showcase the strength of our movements' unity. I will be there on November 2 to demand free education now. It's long overdue."
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"As students, we are motivated and lifted up by the support of so many community organizations, civil society groups and labour partners," said Bilan Arte, CFS National Chairperson. "After decades of damage to post-secondary education in Canada, our time has come."
Combined, the CFS, unions, and community groups represent over 4 million students, workers and people who are calling for the elimination of tuition fees and universal access to public, post-secondary education in Canada.
"Sky-rocketing tuition fees continue to strangle the next generation and families with life-long debt. It's time to put tax dollars to work for public post-secondary education," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "By taking action and uniting for one clear priority - free education now - students and workers can improve the lives of working people and families right across the country."
"This is about envisioning a better world, and building it together," said Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. "I stand with students to build a Canada that upholds human rights, invests in strong public services and ensures equal opportunity for all people."
In Germany, the broad-based 'Alliance Against Tuition Fees', comprised of hundreds of students' unions, trade unions, and political parties, won the elimination of tuition fees for all students.
To date, the CFS national Day of Action has been endorsed by:
- ACORN Canada
- Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association (ASPA) (University of Saskatchewan)
- Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1505
- Association of Allied Health Professionals
- Black Lives Matter - Toronto
- Broadbent Institute
- Canadian Association of University Teachers
- Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
- Canadian Intern Association
- Canadian Labour Congress
- Canadian Media Guild / Communications Workers of America
- Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union
- Canadian Teachers Federation
- Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)
- CUPW – Nova Scotia
- Canadian Youth Climate Coalition
- Corner Brook and District Labour Council
- Council of Canadians
- Council of Canadians: Winnipeg Chapter
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
- CUPE 856
- CUPE 1281
- CUPE 1870
- CUPE 3287
- CUPE 3905
- CUPE 3908
- CUPE 3909
- CUPE 3912
- CUPE Manitoba
- CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador
- CUPE Nova Scotia
- CUPE Ontario
- Dalhousie Faculty Association
- Edmonton District Labour Council
- Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario
- Fight for 15$ and Fairness (Ontario)
- Fredericton and District Labour Council
- Fossil Free Canada
- Guelph Faculty Association
- Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council
- International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
- Manitoba Federation of Labour
- Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union
- Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations
- Memorial University if Newfoundland Faculty Association
- National Union of Public and General Employees
- New Brunswick Federation of Labour
- Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees
- Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour
- Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association
- Nova Scotia Federation of Labour
- NSGEU Local 8
- Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association
- Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations
- Ontario Federation of Labour
- Ontario Public Service Employees Union
- Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
- Ottawa and District Labour Council
- Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
- PSAC 901
- PSAC 60550 – Union of Graduate Student Workers
- PSAC Atlantic
- PSAC Prairie Region
- Regina and District Labour Council
- Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
- St. John's District Labour Council
- Toronto and York Region Labour Council
- UFCW Canada
- UFCW Local 832
- University of New Brunswick Union of Graduate Student Workers
- UNIFOR
- UNIFOR Prairie Council
- United Campus Labour Council
- Unite Here! Canada
- United Steelworkers of Canada
- University of Guelph Faculty Association
- University of Toronto Faculty Association
- University of Western Ontario Faculty Association
- Windsor University Faculty Association
- Winnipeg Labour Council
- Workers Action Centre
- Workers United Canada Council
- Young Communist League
The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest students organization, representing more that 650,000 college and university students across the country in the demand for high-quality, publically funded post-secondary education.
SOURCE Canadian Federation of Students
