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Hospital food fight heats up with rally
Wednesday, November 3, media campaign launch
KINGSTON, Ont. Kingston General Hospital (KGH) is planning to buy almost all of its food in Toronto. Later this month, KGH intends to ink a contract with Compass Group, a giant multinational company that prepares food in a factory in the Toronto area. That means millions of dollars that could be spent with farmers, merchants and workers in the Kingston area will disappear down the 401. Factory-prepared food will come as microwavable TV dinner’ style meals that require almost no local input.
But it’s not too late to stop the food service deal from going ahead later this month when the KGH board of governors is voting on it.
A community group concerned about the impact of outsourcing the hospital food service is appealing to area residents to join with them to support local farmers and merchants, the region’s economy and the environment, and stop the deal with Compass from being approved.
A community rally is planned for Wednesday, November 3, 2010 beginning at 12:00 Noon at the KGH main entrance at 76 Stuart Street.
Our local community taxes and donations support KGH. Shouldn’t the hospital support us? Why is KGH selling out the local economy? Asks Louis Rodrigues, President, CUPE 1974.
The rally this Wednesday will kick off a month-long media campaign that includes radio, TV and print media advertising. A crop of roaming local vegetables including corn, a carrot and an apple, will visit Kingston events like the downtown farmers’ market and deliver campaign messages likes: Local corn deserves a cob at KGH!; KGH unfair to local carrots!; Local Fruits For Fairness at KGH!.
The campaign is supported by a wide range of individuals and organizations who believe that Kingston General Hospital should do what’s right for our community. This includes People Who Care About Kingston and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1974.
To find out more about the campaign and how you can help keep KGH food local, go to: www.kingstonfoodfight.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Louis Rodrigues President, CUPE 1974 613-531-1319
Stella Yeadon CUPE Communications 416-559-9300
