Friday December 20, 2013
For Immediate Release
Toronto, ON – Robert Fox, Executive Director for Oxfam Canada, gave his heartfelt thanks to the IAM for its gift of $50,000.00 to support Oxfam’s response to Typhoon Haiyan. “Your generous donation as part of the Canadian Labour Congress appeal in support of the people of the Philippines, will allow us to scale up our response to the devastation,” said Fox. “Our goal is to help 500,000 people affected by the storm.”
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have donated this money,” said IAM Canadian GVP Dave Ritchie. “As a union the Machinists have stepped up to the plate, I’m asking our individual members to do the same, these people need our help.”
Oxfam began its disaster response within hours of the record high winds and storm surge that left thousands dead and more than 4 million displaced. Working with local partners, Oxfam focused its early efforts on water, sanitation and hygiene, striving to meet people’s most basic needs. The agency has already provided support to more than 300,000 people who lost their homes and livelihoods while helping the municipalities of Tacloban and Leyte to get their water systems working again.
“The response of the labour movement to Oxfam’s Haiyan Appeal has been incredibly generous,” said Fox. “Your solidarity with the people of the Philippines is tremendously moving – invaluable in saving lives in the wake of disaster.”
“We have partnered with Oxfam in humanitarian relief in the past,” explained Ritchie. “When the tsunami hit the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004, the IAM was among the first to donate to Oxfam Canada’s relief and reconstruction efforts, it’s who we are and what we do – service to the world community – and we’re glad to do it.”
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For further information:
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 EXT #6331/416-735-9765