THE trade union movement has ramped up its state election campaign in Sutherland Shire with a large doorknocking exercise and community meeting.
Shire Community Union Alliance said more than 50 workers doorknocked 750 homes in the electorates of Miranda and Heathcote on Saturday.
"Local nurses, teachers, electricity workers and disability workers were among those involved," a spokeswoman said.
"They spoke to voters about issues ranging from cuts to the Gymea and Loftus TAFE colleges, the proposed privatisation of poles and wires, and the privatisation of health and disability services," a spokeswoman said.
"The overwhelming response from voters was that they don't want their state-run public services and assets sold off."
Shire Community Union Alliance held a public meeting on Tuesday night at Tradies Club, Gymea.
Candidates were invited to sign "a pledge in support of public services and investment in local jobs and skills".
Both initiatives were part of a statewide Unions NSW campaign, NSW - Not for Sale.
Secretary Mark Lennon denied it was a "scare campaign".
"This is a truth campaign; unfortunately, the truth is scary," he said.
Mr Lennon said the government's agenda was "to flog off the public's vital assets to the private sector as quickly as possible".
A ‘PUBLICITY STUNT’
Treasurer Andrew Constance said the government would ‘‘stare down’’ the campaign, which was ‘‘fundamentally dishonest’’.
He claimed the campaign was about union power and maintaining the membership base in the electricity businesses.
‘‘Prices have been driven by union rorts that exist within these power networks.’’
Cronulla MP Mark Speakman hit out at the shire campaign when he declined an invitation to Tuesday’s ‘‘forum’’.
‘‘Calling yourself a ‘community’ group is a nice PR stunt, but it can’t disguise that you’re just the local wing of Unions NSW, whose boss Mark Lennon is also the state boss of the ALP,’’ he said in an email to organiser Michael Pugh.
‘‘Your ‘forum’ is a partisan publicity stunt to help the union bosses who dictate policy to [Opposition Leader] Luke Foley and local Labor candidates.
‘‘The current scaremongering by some of your affiliate unions and Unions NSW is a disgrace.
‘‘In particular, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association officials should hang their heads in shame over blatantly deceitful TV advertising suggesting that the NSW government is going to ‘Americanise’ the health system.
‘‘That suggestion is utter rubbish.’’