ACORN Canada | Uniting Communities for Justice

Ottawa EMC: Ottawa ACORN calls for cap on money transfer chrarges

Michelle Walrond said she's tired of paying high fees to send money to her family overseas.

The Ottawa resident and ACORN Canada member was among those who turned up for a rally to protest high fees outside the Money Mart on the corner of Bronson and Gladstone Avenues on Jan. 10.

"If you don't use the remittance system, you don't know," said Walrond, who was one of roughly 20 members who came out on the cold day to protest.

Some cars passing down Bronson Avenue honked in support as the organization held signs and marched to try and gain attention to the issue.

Walrond and the members of ACORN were calling on Western Union to cap their charges at five per cent. In addition to the rally, members from ACORN Canada are collecting signatures from across the country as part of a petition. If they reach 5,000 signatures, it will get sent to Western Union's chief executive in Colorado.

Western Union had yet to respond to a request for comment at press time.

Walrond said people who sent money to family overseas are struggling themselves, and are in a tough position because they have to send money to family who are also poor.

"People are dying and they need money," she said.

She said she hoped that remittance fees would soon be capped at five per cent.

According to ACORN Canada and ACORN International, the average remittance fee charged can be as high as 20 per cent. For more information on ACORN Canada, visit their website at: www.acorncanada.org .

Original Article available at: http://www.emcottawawest.ca/20120119/news/ACORN+Ottawa+calls+for+cap+on+money+transfer+charges

Tenant Unions in Surrey Fight for Healthy Homes

Surrey ACORN's Healthy Homes campaign took an exciting step in December to round out a successful year.  At a meeting at the Guildford Public Library, members officially voted to begin the creation of Tenants Unions for Healthy Homes in buildings across Surrey.  Formed out of a desire for formal representation as a means to winning improved housing for tenants across the city, these tenants unions will be a show of solidarity for all people willing to stand up for their legal and human rights.

Quick off of the heals of the meeting, the first four tenants unions led by ACORN Canada's leadership in Bon Tera Apartments, Kwantlen Park Manor, Imperial Parkside Apartments, and Parkside Apartments on 105A Ave began the process of securing formal recognition from landlords as the voice of tenants in their buildings.

In a short time some of those tenants unions have had meetings with landlords, quickly securing much needed investments.  As expected, some landlords would claim that there are no problems with the buildings and use bully tactics to intimidate ACORN Canada members from forming a union, but members are not planning on stepping down from this fight.

People Power Blocks Mayor Fords Cuts

Last night, following an intensive grassroots campaign, City Councillors from across Toronto voted 23-21 to defeat the majority of the cuts proposed by Mayor Rob Ford in his 2011 Budget.  The campaign was organized by labour and community groups, including many Toronto ACORN members in wards across in the City who called on their councillors to oppose the budget and its cuts to vital services across Toronto.

When it came time for a vote on the budget, nearly 50 Toronto ACORN members helped pack the chambers of City Hall to remind their elected officials that Toronto opposes these cuts.

Council debated various items on the agenda from 4:00 - 5:30, when we moved outside to join a massive rally put on by the Respect Toronto Coalition.  Members carried signs and chanted to protect TTC services, subsidized child care, and affordable housing.

Members were overjoyed to see that after months of intense organizing and active engagement, over $20 million in proposed cuts were rejected by council.

Ottawa Metro: ACORN Canada takes on Western Union’s fees

A five per cent cut in remittance fees would free $16B globally: World Bank

Ottawa ACORN picketed a downtown payday loan outlet to protest what they say are excessive fees companies like Western Union charge immigrants to send money back to their home countries.

In order to send $106 to his brother and sister in Afghanistan, Tahir Nazari said he had to pay a $13 fee, a bite of about 12 per cent.

“I think it is not fair,” he said.

Western Union spokesman Daniel Diaz said sending is cheaper than it used to be, because increased competition and other factors have actually driven their fees down in past decade.

“We take pride in offering consumers excellent value for their dollar,” he said. “This does not always mean that we are the lowest-priced service provider.”

While there are many other options for transferring money internationally, ACORN says Western Union, which is heavily advertised, is the most accessible for people who are not familiar with the banking system, and in some parts of the world it is the only local option available.

 

Original article available t: http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/1068487--acorn-takes-on-western-union-s-fees