CUPE's Water Action Workshop

WATER ACTIONWORKSHOP

Welcome to a conversation about water

Why did you come?We may not be experts, but we care about water

Your nameYour worksiteWhat comes to mind when you think about water?

Why talk about water?

Water is vital to our lives.Access to safe drinking water and sanitation are fundamental human rights. These services are the foundation of safe and healthy communities.

Why talk about water?Public water and wastewater services are at risk because of:

UnderfundingPrivatizationInternational trade deals

Why talk about water?CUPE members deliver public water. Water is a public good.

The United Nations has declared that water and sanitation are human rights.

We need to pressure Canada to make sure this right is upheld.

Indigenous Communities

Many Indigenous communities are deprived of the human right to water.

Communities lack:Adequate sanitationSewage treatmentDrinking water services

Indigenous CommunitiesThere are often more that 150 active boil water advisories in First Nation communities across Canada.

That’s nearly one in five First Nation communities, affecting thousands of families.

Indigenous CommunitiesMany communities face health and economic problems because of industrial exploitation.

Companies extract natural resources and leave an environmental mess.

Indigenous water struggles

(a few examples…)

In Grassy Narrows, ON, people are getting sick from mercury in the drinking water.

The community of Shoal Lake 40, MB, water has been un-drinkable for nearly 20 years.

‘Site C’ in BC, is a large-scale hydro-electric dam project that is putting land, water and communities at risk.

At Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River, an urban development is proposed on Algonquin sacred territory.

Neskantaga, ON, has been under boil water advisory since 1995.

In Fort Chipewyan, AB, water is contaminated from tar sands development and tailing ponds.

Public Investment

Public InvestmentMany communities need reinvestment in water and wastewater plants and pipes.

The federal government promised major investments in new infrastructure.A strong corporate push to privatize threatens our public water and wastewater services.

Privatization means: SecrecyReduced service qualityHigher costs and greater risksLoss of public controlWater of public moneyContracting outLess job security for workers

Corporate InterestsCorporations are exploiting and contaminating our freshwater resources for profit.

They are doing this through resource extraction, water bottling, and large-scale livestock farming

Corporate InterestsTrade agreements give foreign water corporations new rights and powers.

This threatens the quality of water sources, and public water services - our drinking water and wastewater treatment systems.

Corporate InterestsTrade deals like CETA, TPP and TiSA lock in privatization of services by making it very expensive to bring water services back into public hands - even if privatization fails.

This makes it difficult for governments to protect the environment and the public interest.

Corporate InterestsTrade deals limit the power of governments to protect water sources, the environment, public services and the local economy.

It can become nearly impossible to ban fracking or pesticides, or to promoting responsible, green practices.

No water for profitCanada needs high quality, locally-controlled, non-profit public services.

Our drinking water and wastewater systems are community assets - they belong to us all.

Communities, not corporations, must control water resources and services.

Keep water public!Keeping public control of our water services and water resources is the only way to protect our common interests and collective water rights.

Together we can protect water sources and keep public funds for water resources and services from private, for-profit hands.

Keep water public!1. What is important to you

about water issues in Canada, and why do you care?

2. Is there a local water problem you know about?

3. What bold steps can we take together, starting here in our community?

What can be done?Action ideas

In a few minutes, we will form pairs to talk about how we can take action. First we will look at a few ideas.

Action idea #1CUPE members passed a resolution at National Convention 2015 to bring municipal services back in house.

This is called:

Re-municipalization.

What is re-municipalizationHow does it work?1. Identify privatized services in

our communities, that could be brought back in house

2. Work with CUPE to make them public again!

Action idea #2Work with Council of Canadians activists to make our town or city a “Blue Community”.

To become a Blue Community, a municipality passes three resolutions pledging to:

Blue Communities are ones that commit to:

Promote publicly financed, owned and operated water and waste water services (no P3s or contracting out).

Ban or phase out the sale of bottled water in public facilities and at municipal events.

Recognize water and sanitation as human rights.

Action idea #2 (cont’d)Canada’s first Indigenous Blue Community was announced on January 12, 2015.

Tsal'alh, St’át’imc Territory became the 21st Blue Community.

Other communities include: Lunenburg, NS, Amqui, QC, Kingston, ON and Victoria, BC.

Action idea #3Support Indigenous water Struggles

Find updates on campaigns and issues and how to get involved at:

www.CUPE.ca/aboriginal and

CUPE.ca/water

Next steps…Form a “Water Watch” committee.We can invite anyone who cares about

water to join:

Local Council of Canadians chapterEnvironmental groupsEau Secours (Quebec)National Association of Friendship CentersOther CUPE Locals and other unions

Next steps…Set up a ‘Council Watch’ program to keep tabs on potential threats.

Find tips on setting up Water Watch and Council Watch, a report-back form, and much more at cupe.ca/water.

Together we can choose what we want to do.

Next steps…Identify and build allies.

Connect with Indigenous and environmental activists.

Connect with the local Council of Canadians Chapter!

Here is a summary of possible next steps:

Plan a first/next meeting.

Form a Water Watch committee with union, community, and Indigenous allies

Form a Council Watch to protect our services, water sources and our jobs.

Learn more about the Blue Communities project.

Now what do we want to do?

“What work can we start

right now?”

Debrief:

“Share one next step

that you think we can take.”

Wrap upWhen will we hold our

next meeting?Where will it take place?Who needs to be invited?How will we stay in touch?

Thank you for coming!