NEWS RELEASE

NAPE Launches ‘Be Proud. Buy Local.’ Advertising Campaign in Support of Local Economy, Businesses, and Workers

For Immediate Release:

Monday, December 5, 2016

ST. JOHN’S, NL– The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) launched a campaign today encouraging the people of the province to support local businesses and the workers who make them tick. The ads will be run province-wide on an array of platforms.

NAPE launched the first ad in the series today. It can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/QKufmhEJzkk

“In recent weeks, we have seen some distressing stories in the media about local businesses closing their doors,” said NAPE President Jerry Earle. “Local businesses are the engine of our economy. We wanted to something to encourage people to support them and the workers in their communities who create world-class goods and services. While this campaign focusses on NAPE members and the businesses that employ them, the broader goal is to support our local economy by encouraging people to buy local.”

“The people of this province have a strong tradition of standing up for one another when times are tough,” said Earle. “This is NAPE’s way of pitching in to help support the local economy.”

“Every time someone chooses to spend their dollars on goods and services made right here in the province, that is money that stays and circulates in the local economy. It is money that goes towards supporting a local worker and their family – members of their community,” said Earle. “This money has a much greater chance of recirculating in the local economy than money spent online or on businesses that aren’t operating directly in the province. From small ‘mom and pop’ shops to national companies that produce goods and services here in the province, buying local is good for our economy.”

“This campaign also shines a light on the members of NAPE who work in the private sector,” said Earle. “Many people may not realize that NAPE unites and represents over 5000 workers in the private sector across the province. These are people in our communities who proudly produce union-made goods and services for an array of businesses in the province, including Purity, Browning Harvey (Pepsi), NL Safety Services, Comfort Inn Airport, Country Ribbon, and Labatt.”

“We hope this campaign plays a role in encouraging the people of this province to support local workers and the businesses that employ them by making the choice to buy local whenever they can,” stated Earle.

– 30 –

For further information, please contact:

Keith Dunne, NAPE Campaigns and Communications Coordinator

(phone) 709.570.2501    (cell) 709.631.9737  (email) kdunne@nape.ca