Media Advisory: CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn to join Barrie Pride Saturday

BARRIE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 12, 2015) - The president of the province's largest union will march with members in Barrie Pride this Saturday.

"Pride is an important way to support our members and our communities," said Fred Hahn, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. "As a union, we have developed and successfully negotiated collective agreement language on many equality fronts. We are proud that CUPE was one of the very first unions to bargain protection and advance equality for the LGBTQ community."

Government austerity has put equity and equality on the back-burner in too many workplaces, said Hahn.

"Today, that austerity is driving a privatization push. Let us be clear: In the private sector, the top priority is always profit, not equality. Privatizing services like Hydro One impacts everyone, with equity-seeking groups being hardest hit," he said. "This is one reason why CUPE Ontario fights for reliable public services that are available for everyone."

WHO: CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn

WHAT: Barrie Pride parade

WHEN: Saturday, June 13, at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Parade starts at Barrie Public Library, 60 Worsley Street

CUPE is Ontario's community union, with 250,000 members providing quality public services we all rely on, in every part of the province, every day. CUPE Ontario members are proud to work in social services, health care, municipalities, school boards, universities and airlines.