REPORT OF THE AFL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

INTRODUCTION

The AFL Political Action Committee (PAC) had balanced representation from public and private sector unions. We had slightly improved gender balance in 2002, but overall the committee would benefit from more women, youth and persons of colour members. A better geographical mix would go a long ways in assisting us with future campaigns and regional workshops.

All but one of our meetings was held in Edmonton as that is where the majority of Committee members live.

We experienced some difficulties early in our term, overcame the resignation of our Chair and for the past year and a half have been working fast and furiously. Thanks, Brother Steel for acting as Chair of the Committee. Not all, but many committee members shared the role of Secretary to the Committee.

We held 10 meetings, a one day training workshop for committee members on the Labour Law Lobby campaign, sponsored a series of workshops around the province on this campaign, and wrapped up our term with a meeting of the Heads of Unions to discuss a potential "Labour Issues" campaign.

POLITICAL CLIMATE

The political climate in Alberta is volatile. Labour and working people continue to be under attack. Rights that have taken years to acquire are being eroded. The good news is:

• The Tories have slipped slightly in the polls - about 45 percent of Albertans say they would vote Tory, down from over 50 percent for most of the previous three years

• in 1989, 1993 and 1997 more Albertans voted against the Tories than voted for them. This clearly shows that a number of Albertans would like to see a different political leadership in this province

• polling from the US and other Canadian jurisdictions suggest that union members see a role for their unions in politics - they are willing to consider information and analysis - but they don't want to be told who to vote for.

Given the assault by governments and employers, labour needs a united, cohesive approach to political action. Failing to act decisively will result in further attacks on our movement and rights.
When fundamental rights such as the right to organize, the right to representation, the right to bargain collectively and the right to strike are eroded, altered or stripped through legislation or at the bargaining table, it's time for a new game plan.

The AFL Political Action Committee hopes this convention will provide a mandate for launching an "Issues Campaign".

We believe the best defence is a good offence. Involving our members in identifying the issues and then using that information to re-focus our efforts in areas such as lobbying and political action will be a "win-win" proposition.

RESOLUTIONS FROM 2001

The Committee dealt with resolutions referred to it by the 2001 Convention or the AFL Executive Council. These resolutions covered topics such as the PAC Handbook, municipal and school board campaigns, consultations with unions to explore options for electoral reform, power deregulation and support for rural mail couriers. We lobbied to have income earned as holiday pay not taxed, tried to get governments current collective agreements mandatory for new contractors and for successor rights to apply to protect employees. We demanded of the federal government that credit card interest rates be lowered, and we continued the opposition to the contracting out of medical services. We continued the fight to repeal Bill 11 (health care privatization) and we advocated for an arms-length commission of health care workers and citizens to examine ways of reforming public health care to keep it effective. This we did by working with the Friends of Medicare.

LABOUR LAW LOBBY CAMPAIGN

This campaign was initiated as a result of the government's Labour Law Review Process - the MLA Review Committee that examined Alberta's Labour Code. The AFL, through the Political Action Committee, developed an educational kit for the Executive, our affiliates and activists complete with an instructor's workbook and a handbook for effective lobbying. A series of information sheets were prepared on:

• What are labour laws and why are they being reviewed this year?
• The purpose of labour laws
• If unions are such good things, why don't more Alberta workers join?
• Why unions are good for Alberta
• Make it easier to join unions
• Ensure that new unions survive
• Protect rights during labour disputes, and
• Lobbying.

The Committee received AFL Executive Council support to host a series of educational activist lobby training workshops throughout Alberta. These workshops were well received by union activists and we hope to build on them in the coming years.

Each participant received a lobby kit - complete with the AFL's Submission to the Alberta MLA Review Committee on the Alberta Labour Relations Code, background notes for MLA lobbying and a MLA Lobby Kit. The workshops looked at the issues for reform that would benefit workers.

These workshops were facilitated by Brothers Mallett and Steel using popular education techniques. PAC committee members were trained as facilitators for future workshops.

The travelling road show took place in the Fall of 2002. Our Brothers went to the following communities: Edmonton (September 15); Ft. McMurray (September 16); Hinton (September 17); Calgary (September 18) and Lethbridge (September 19).

Activists then lobbied their MLA's. Each lobbyist was primed to find out if their MLA favoured opening the Alberta Labour Code, if they knew anything about labour relations, would they support the inclusion of the Supreme Court decisions for agricultural workers to organize and to ban secondary picketing. Each lobbyist was asked to record their MLA's response, to get a commitment from their MLA and to follow up with their MLA when the Minister's report was issued.

With the recent adoption of the notorious Bill 27 affecting health care workers, mobilization of these activists to lobby again is something we hope the incoming Committee will examine.

Feedback on this process, the workshops and the lobbying was very positive. Our members felt empowered and engaged. We hope the incoming Committee continues to involve union members in direct political action.

NEW DEMOCRATS

The AFL PAC Committee recommended the re-establishment of the ND/Labour Liaison Committee. We are pleased to report that several meetings took place in 2002. Raj Pannu, Leader of the Alberta New Democrats will soon be a regular guest with voice at AFL Executive Council meetings as is Pat Martin, New Democrat MP (Labour Critic) at Canadian Labour Congress Executive Council meetings.

Committee members participated in the 2001 and 2002 Alberta New Democrat conventions and the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Alberta New Democrats. There are a number of labour representatives on the New Democrat Council and Sister Kerry Barrett, AFL Secretary Treasurer is currently 1st Vice President of the Alberta New Democrats.

Federally, committee members participated in the leadership race and 2003 convention. The election of Jack Layton as the new Federal New Democrat Leader we hope will result in positive changes for labour and the left.

PAC hopes that as labour identifies its issues, that political parties who want labour's support will rally behind the issues we identify on behalf of working people.

ELECTORAL REFORM & LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

Electoral reform is a hot issue. We are advocating for proportional representation through a resolution at this convention.

As well, legislative changes impacting labour's ability to contribute to election campaigns is adversely affecting our ability to elect left and labour candidates.

COALITION OF PROGRESSIVE ELECTORS (COPE)

The Political Action Committee has prepared a resolution to invite representatives of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) from Vancouver to tour some of our communities, working with the AFL PAC Committee and local labour councils and committees.

COPE has a proven track record of electing progressive, labour friendly candidates, working in coalition with community groups.

This tour would look at the feasibility of establishing similar coalitions here that could foster and prepare us for electoral successes at municipal and school board levels.

EDUCATION

CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS

The Canadian Labour Congress produced a Toolbox on political action.

Pat Kerwin, National Political Action Director for the Canadian Labour Congress, retired in March of 2002. We wish to thank him for his commitment, expertise and assistance to our Federation and this Committee and wish him all the best in his retirement.

AFL/CLC SCHOOLS

The committee was disappointed that "political action" courses were cancelled in 2001 and 2002 at the AFL/CLC Schools. Clearly we need to re-evaluate how we market these courses to attract participants.

"Taking the Workplace to Politics" was the course cancelled in 2002. It would have focused on political renewal, issue education and communication and was designed for local leaders and activists with a view to building the union by taking the workplace to politics. The course would have strengthened labour presence in the local electoral process and in the community.

The upside to the AFL/CLC Schools is that political action presentations were held at both the 2001 and 2002 Schools. In 2002, Brother Les Steel made presentations in both weeks during the morning compulsory sessions on the AFL Labour Law Lobby Campaign and Right to Work legislation.

MEMBERSHIP FORUM & WORKSHOP

In May 2002, the AFL Membership Forum focused on Trends in Organizing. Brother Mallett led a workshop on "Making Noise Politically: Unions in Politics". Both keynote speakers at this forum included political action components in their presentations - Charlotte Yates from McMaster University in her presentation on "Which Way Forward: Directions for Union Renewal in Canada" and Walter Davis from the Southern Empowerment Project, Tennessee on "Unions in the Community".

CLC LIAISON

The Committee is fortunate to have Brother Danny Mallett, Political Action Representative for the Prairie Region as a resource person. Brother Mallett keeps us apprised of political action developments by the Congress, by its affiliated federations and unions, and by governments in Canada. Over the past term, we spent considerable time discussing developments in B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We also talked about the aggressive union decertification anti-union campaigns being waged in Ontario.

FRIENDS OF MEDICARE/PAC NETWORK

Members of PAC are active in the Friends of Medicare Campaign. We hope to parlay the activist lobby training into such areas as health care and education.

This committee would a Political Action Network developed. The purpose would be to identify activists, provide them with information, analysis and emerging trends so that they could keep their local unions and labour councils informed. This would position the Federation so that political action activists could be organized and mobilized as issues and campaigns arose. It would foster a sense of community, and the development of candidates for future elections. In other words, preparing today for tomorrow is how we will make electoral gains!

LABOUR "ISSUES CAMPAIGN"

The AFL Political Action Committee spent most of the last year examining an innovative campaign developed by the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL). We organizing a Heads of Unions meeting on March 10th, 2003 and have drafted a resolution for consideration at this convention for a similar labour "Issues Campaign". The campaign concept is based on:

• Are you tired of having labour issues ignored by the government and the media here in Alberta?

• Do you want to get a better idea about how we can capture the attention of the public and make them more supportive of labour priorities?

• Do you want to learn more about what your own members want and expect from your union when it comes to political action?

If you answered yes to these questions, we urge you to support the resolution calling for this campaign.

Modeled on the campaign currently underway in Saskatchewan, an issues campaign would involve polling union members to find out which issues matter most to them - and using that information to re-focus our efforts in areas such as lobbying and political action.

The Saskatchewan labour issues campaign was launched a year and a half ago and will culminate during that province's upcoming provincial election with a non-partisan parallel campaign - featuring leaflets, educational events and even television ads.

Here in Alberta, an issues campaign could follow a similar course - or it could be something entirely different.

At the Heads of Unions meeting, there was agreement in principle to strike a steering committee and to have a resolution come before the delegates at this convention for debate. We want to find out if affiliates are satisfied with the labour movement's current approach to political action and membership mobilization - or whether there's a feeling that we should try something new and creative, like an issues campaign.

If the AFL launches an "issues campaign" it will be adopting changes that could be sweeping. In fact, they may fundamentally alter the way we, as a movement, approach political action. We may also be setting in motion a process that will require significant commitments from unions in terms of time, people and financial resources.

Your support is crucial in helping us build a new blueprint for political action - one that will guide us through the next provincial election and beyond.

We need to make labour more relevant in today's times. Our committee is excited about this proposal. If adopted, we are looking forward to working with the affiliates on this campaign.

CONCLUSION

The AFL Political Action Committee is hopeful this convention will endorse our proposals for action:

• launching a labour "issues campaign"
• sponsoring a tour by the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE)
• establishing a viable provincial political action network
• preparing for provincial, municipal and school board elections, and
• carrying out work on electoral reform.

This Committee will continue to:

• analyze emerging trends and report to the AFL Executive Council
• work in coalitions fighting the privatization of health care and education, and
• revitalize and renew interest in political action through membership education, organization and mobilization.

The AFL Political Action Committee wishes to express its appreciation to the Officers and Executive Council of the Federation for supporting our initiatives. A very sincere "thanks" to the Executive and Administrative staff at the Federation for their hard work in assisting the Committee over the past two years. We appreciate and acknowledge your efforts and expertise. PAC believes exciting and challenging times are ahead for the Federation.

 
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Committee,

AFL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, 2001 - 2003

 

Les Steel, Chair                                      AFL Richard Colwell                                CUPE 30 Ryan Falkenberg                              ATU 583 John Fata                                     UFCW 401 Alex Grimaldi                                       EDLC Brian Henderson                         CUPW-Edm. Don MacNeil                                          CEP Dave Malka                                     CEP 777 Sandi Mutter                                        TWU Victor Patton                                   CUPE 40 Heather Smith                                       UNA Maureen Werlin                            OPEIU 458 Berend Wilting                               CUPE 474 Danny Mallett                                        CLC Kerry Barrett (ex-officio)                          AFL

Committee members who completed partial terms:

Patti Anderson                                     TWU
Dan Lakusta                                        TWU

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