The Alberta labour movement believes that economic issues cannot be properly addressed without considering the impact of development and industry on the environment. With that in mind, the AFL Environment Committee has worked hard to promote a worker-friendly approach to sustainable develop. The Committee disseminates information and organizes events aimed at building an economy that meets the needs of working people while respecting the environment.

Read the Environment Committee pamphlet, Why Protecting the Environment is a Trade Union Issue, linking labour and the environment.

Much of the work of the Environment Committee is driven by Our Children's Future: Fighting for Jobs and the Environment, a key policy paper passed at the 1999 AFL Convention and Climate Change, a policy paper passed at the 2007 AFL Convention.

Mandate

The Environment Committee is a Standing Committee of the AFL. Its membership is reflective of the broad cross-section of unions in Alberta.

The mandate of the Environment Committee includes but is not limited to:

• Implementing resolutions with an environmental theme that have been passed by an AFL Convention. Any outstanding resolutions from the Convention are also referred to the Committee for recommendation.
• Researching, analyzing and assessing environmental issues within Alberta, Canada and the world and making recommendations on actions and response to the AFL Executive Council that ensure consistency with established AFL policy.
• Coordinating support and activities with affiliate environment committees.
• Coordinating activities with the CLC Environment Committee.
• Liaison with environmental groups around the province of Alberta on issues of mutual interest or concern.
• Coordinating with environmental organizations and participating in environmental networks as it sees fit.
• Participating in environmental conferences and forums.
• Organizing educational material on environmental issues for the labour movement in Alberta. Planning and presenting forums, courses and seminars to educate the labour movement and Albertans on environmental issues.

Reports

• Environment Committee Resolutions from 2011 AFL Convention
• Environment Committee Report to 2011 AFL Convention (powerpoint presentation)
• Environment Committee Report to 2009 AFL Convention
• Environment Committee Resolutions from 2009 AFL Convention

AFL Environment Committee -  2011-2013

• Melissa Field, Health Sciences Association of Alberta, Chair
• Roxann Dreger, United Nurses of Alberta, Grande Prairie, Secretary
• Christine Pynaker, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Executive Council Liaison and representative to CLC Environment and Health and Safety Committee
• Ron Johnston, Public Services Alliance of Canada Local 30117
• Karen Kennedy, Canadian Union of Postal Workers - Edmonton
• Eric Rosendahl, Communications Energy and Paperworkers Local 855

Alternates:

• J. R. Berube, Health Sciences Association of Alberta
• Jerry Woods, Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 730-Edmonton

• Other Unions' Environment Policy Papers

• Canadian Labour Congress
• Canadian Union of Public Employees
• Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada
• United Steelworkers of America

Environmental Groups

• Alberta Environment Network
• Carbon Zero Canada
• David Suzuki Foundation
• Pembina Institute
• Our Water Is Not For Sale!