Leaks reveal Tory plan to privatize health care

• Documents leaked to opposition parties show that the government has a hidden agenda to allow more privatization of health care after the next election. NDP leader Brian Mason said the documents show that Health Minister has misled Albertans. "It's more proof that the Stelmach Tories can't be trusted on health care," he said. Join Friends of Medicare in the fight to save our health-care system. To see the leaked documents ...

Farm deaths prove safety laws are absurd

• Two people were electrocuted while working on an Edmonton area farm - but health and safety inspectors called to the site were powerless to investigate (Dec 3 press release). They had to abandon inquiries when the discovered the tragedy took place on a farm, because agricultural operations are exempt from workplace health and safety laws. "This is clear evidence that the government's recent decision to focus on education and training to improve farm and ranch safety is completely inadequate," says AFL president Gil McGowan.
  For more information ...

Brace for more cuts to vital services

• While private-sector forecasters predicted robust economic growth for Alberta in 2011, the provincial government painted a grim picture of our financial future. "Clearly, the agenda for Conservative Finance Minister Ted Morton is to find ways to justify cuts to health care, education, and social services," says Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour. For more information ...

Time for action on domestic violence

• In a recent Alberta study, more than 20 per cent of respondents reported they had experienced the impact of domestic violence in the workplace. However, employers, supervisors, workers, professional associations and unions can take joint action to prevent it. The Alberta Council of Women's Shelters and Health Sciences Association of Alberta developed a toolkit, Everyone's Business, that helps everyone do their part to prevent domestic violence. For more information ...

Urgent Action

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One more push for REAL pension reform

Canada's finance ministers meet in Kananaskis on December 19 and 20 to discuss pension reform. The best option for all Canadians is the expansion of the Canada Pension Plans proposed by the Alberta Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress. Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton alone is fighting to stop this. Let him and the other finance ministers know he does not speak for Albertans on this issue. To join the fight ...

Events

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December 18 - International Migrants Day
December 20 - International Human Rights Solidarity Day
January 14-16, 2011 - CUPE AB Anti-Racism Conference, Calgary
January 17-22 & January 23-28, 2011 - AFL/CLC Annual School, Jasper

Did you know ...

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• Only 38 per cent of Albertans contributed to an RRSP in 2008 and the median contribution was only $3,200.
• Average management fees in the mutual fund industry are 2.6 per cent, among the highest in the industrial world and about five times that of CPP.
• In 2007, half of Alberta seniors had no investment income.
• Half of Alberta seniors have no employer pension income.
• Half of Alberta seniors without and employer-sponsored pension have no retirement assets.
• Half of Alberta seniors have no RRSP or RRIF savings.
For more information ...

AFL demands better health and safety rules

• The AFL has released a 10-point plan on workplace health and safety (click here for the plan), calling for immediate action from the Alberta Minister of Employment and Immigration (click here for press release). "If simple and common-sense changes aren't made today, Alberta will return to the highest number of workplace fatalities in Canada," says AFL president Gil McGowan. The AFL delivered more than 2,500 signed postcards to the government calling for improved health and safety rules. For more information ...

AFL fights for REAL pension reform

• Canada is facing a pensions crisis and the situation in Alberta is worst than most of the country, with too many people facing a retirement of poverty and hardship after a lifetime of hard work. There is growing consensus about reforming the Canada Pension Plan, but the Alberta government, led by Finance Minister Ted Morton, is resisting. Join top Canadian pension experts Jon Kesselman, Canada Research Chair in Public Policy at Simon Fraser University, and Bernard Dussault, former chief actuary of the Canada Pension Plan, at an AFL summit to explore how we can all retire with dignity. For more details ...

Rewriting a Country: Toward a Just and Peaceful Canada

• Join the Parkland Institute for its 14th annual fall conference, which features a lineup of speakers headed by Canada's most famous author, Margaret Atwood. The vision of Canada is changing, thanks to the efforts of the conservative and corporate elites. Military aggression has replaced peacekeeping. Global competition is in. The conference looks at the hopeful politics of retrieving Canadians' popular view of a country where social and environmental justice prevail. For full conference details ...

Get the message!

• Linguistics professor George Lakoff, former communications advisor to Barack Obama during his presidential campaign, gave a lecture to the AFL and guests on how to get the progressive message out. How you frame the debate determines how successful you will be. To hear highlights of his lecture ... To hear the lecture in full, contact us at afl@afl.org.

Urgent Action

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Join the campaign to stop library cuts

• Calgary Public Library is facing budget cuts that would reduce opening hours and mean job losses. A letter-writing campaign launched by library workers' union CUPE 1169 has already had an impact and the size of the looming cut has been reduced. Let's build on this success by stepping up the campaign. To join the campaign ...

Events

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November 5-7, 2010 - AB New Democratic Convention, Red Deer

November 13, 2010 - Notre Dame Des Bananes Fall Concert, Bonnie Doon Hall,

November 16, 2010 - AFL Lobby Day, Edmonton

November 18, 2010 - AFL Workshop - How the Temporary Worker Program is Impacting Alberta's Reputation

November 19-21, 2010 - Parkland Fall Conference, Edmonton

November 27, 2010 - AFL Pension Summit, Edmonton

December 5, 2010 - AFL Women's Committee Commemorative Brunch, Edmonton

December 10, 2010 - Deadline for registrations to AFL Winter School (brochure/registration form)

Did you know ...

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• In 1991, 15 per cent of the Alberta workforce (341,000 workers) was employed in the top four most dangerous occupations. In 2009, 22 per cent of Albertans (620,000 workers) were employed in the most dangerous occupations.
• Proportionately, Alberta has four times more people in resource-extraction industries - one of Canada's most dangerous industries - than the Canadian average.
• Workers in Alberta are more likely to die on the job than workers in other provinces. In 2008, there were 5.9 deaths per 100,000 workers in Alberta compared to the national average of 4.2 deaths per 100,000 workers.

For more information, read Danger: Workers at Risk and new OH & S release

New poll shows massive support for pension reform

• More than three quarters of Canadians support increasing Canada Pension Plan benefits, according to a new national survey released today by Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Public Service Alliance of Canada. For more information ... To learn more about the campaign for pension reform and events being organized by the Alberta Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress, go to ...

Why the right wins ... and how we can stop them

• Albertans have a long history of electing right-wing governments. This has seriously affected the quality of our public debate and hampered our efforts to unionize and represent workers. How can progressives slay this political giant? To find out how, the AFL is bringing in George Lakoff, the communications mastermind behind the U.S. presidential campaign of Barack Obama. For more details ...

Drop undemocratic changes to Alberta's health laws

• Friends of Medicare has launched a campaign to persuade Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky to abandon plans to change provincial health laws, after a legal opinion commissioned by the AFL said the proposals were "not consistent with a democratic society." For more information ...

• Send a letter to Zwozdesky ...

Government's safety records website gets failing grade

• Alberta's new website offering workplace injury and fatality records may be well intentioned, but presents only a bewildering array of statistics and little useful information for workers, says the AFL. For more information ...

Urgent Action

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Support U of A janitors in struggle for justice

• A group of janitors at the University of Alberta is suing a cleaning company for tens of thousands of dollars, claiming that overtime money has not been paid. The janitors, many of whom are temporary foreign workers, say they have been threatened with deportation by their employer, University of Alberta contractor Bee Clean Building Maintenance. Show your support at an event at the University of Alberta, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19, Education Building Room 106, University of Alberta North Campus. For details of the event ... For information and to sign a pledge in support of the workers, go to http://www.j4jatuofa.org/

Events

 

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• October 25, 2010 - CLC Pension Campaign Lobby Training Session, Edmonton

• October 28/29, 2010 - George Lakoff Lecture/Workshop, Edmonton

• November 5-7, 2010 - AB New Democratic Convention, Red Deer

• November 16, 2010 - AFL Lobby Day, Edmonton

• November 19-21, 2010 - Parkland Fall Conference, Edmonton

• November 27, 2010 - AFL Pension Summit, Edmonton

• December 5, 2010 - AFL Women's Committee Commemorative Brunch, Edmonton

Did you know ...

 

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An analysis by the AFL of Alberta government spending shows that it has cut expenditure on environmental monitoring, while spending on public relations has soared. The research revealed:

• 26% drop in spending on environmental monitoring, compliance, and enforcement. Alberta spent $27 million on monitoring, enforcement, and compliance programs in 2003. Budget 2010 projects Alberta Environment will spend $20 million this year.
• 54% increase in spending on public relations since 2003. The Communications line for Alberta Environment grew from $717,000 in 2003 to $1.1 million for 2010.
• 57% increase in spending by the Minister, Deputy Minister, and Communications from a combined total of $1.4 million in 2003 to a projected $2.2 million in 2010.

For more information ...

 

Say 'No' to private health care!

• At 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, those who value public health care can join a rally organized by Friends of Medicare at the facility operated by the Health Resource Centre (HRC) at #1, 1402 8th Ave. N.W., Calgary. In case you missed it in the news, HRC is the private health care provider that has filed for bankruptcy and required a bailout of millions of dollars from taxpayers. For more information on the rally ... and for the FOM blog, click here ...

Reforming broken revenue system vital to Alberta's future

• The global economic news is gloomy and it's clear that Alberta's recovery from the recession is still on shaky ground. The problems have been compounded by a broken revenue system that is dependent on volatile resource revenues. It's time for a grown-up conversation on how to fix our revenue system. For more information ...

McKesson Canada strike in Edmonton is over

• After 66 days on the picket line, members of UFCW 401 at McKesson Canada in Edmonton are going back to work, after voting to accept a memorandum recommended by the union that included significant pay raises and improvements in vision and dental care. For more information ...

Canada Malting workers on strike in Calgary

• Members of UFCW 1118 who work at Canada Malting began a strike on August 24, after voting 80% to reject the company's final offer. Please join them on the picket line. For more information ...

Urgent Action

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Labour movement urged to help Pakistan flood victims

• The Canadian Labour Congress, in co-operation with the Canadian Red Cross, is working to provide an easy way for union members to make a donation to help flood victims in Pakistan and instantly receive a tax receipt. The federal government will match individual donations until Sept. 12. From now until Sept. 30, 2010, you can make a secure donation by clicking here ...

Events

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• September 5, 2010 - Calgary Pride Parade, 8th Avenue and 8th Street SW, Calgary

• September 6, 2010 - EDLC Annual Labour Day Barbeque, Giovanni Caboto Park, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• September 6, 2010 - CDLC Annual Labour Day Barbeque, Calgary Olympic Plaza, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• September 10/11, 2010 - CDLC Municipal Election Training Workshop. For more details ...

Did you know ...

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The following provisions and protections are in existing health acts the Alberta government wants to replace with the Alberta Health Act:

• the prohibition on the operation of private hospitals;
• the limits to and conditions on the provision of private surgical services;
• Doctors opting in or out (not practising in both the public and private systems);
• prohibited fees; and
• the prohibition of queue jumping.

Welcome to our new website

• The Alberta Federation of Labour has a new website and is now on Facebook and Twitter. We'd really like you check out the site (let us know what you think) and we believe you'll find it worthwhile becoming Fans of our Facebook Page and becoming Followers on Twitter. You can do all that by following the links below.

Visit our new website
Connect on Facebook
Follow AFL on Twitter

Alberta sheds 13,000 full-time jobs in July

• Premier Stelmach recently called on the federal government to end stimulus spending and let the private sector lead us to economic recovery, but the facts show his ideas are irresponsible. Alberta lost 13,000 full-time jobs last month, proving that the recovery is still fragile and that a reduction in government spending could cause a double-dip recession. Read more ...

Workers still at risk, thanks to watered-down government plan

• The Alberta government had a chance to take concrete action to save the lives of working Albertans by using a website to publish the names of employers who violate the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Code - but it appears to have bowed to industry pressure by announcing a watered-down plan. For more information ...

Government set to ignore judge's recommendations on farm workers

• Reports that the Alberta government will not include farm workers in health, safety and employment standards legislation, despite a recommendation to do so by a provincial judge in 2008, could lead to a constitutional challenge. Meanwhile, the government continues to allow unsafe and potentially exploitative working environments to continue. Read more ...

Urgent Action

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Sign up for Next Up!

• Applications are now being accepted for the second year of Next Up Alberta: A Leadership Program for Young People Committed to Social and Environmental Justice. This is an amazing, intensive and transformative program for young social-change activists between the ages of 18 and 32. Read more ...

Events

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• August 22, 2010 - Farm Workers' Day, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., Turner Valley
• August 29, 2010 - Big Splash Open Golf Tournament, 8:00 a.m., Raven Crest Golf Course
• September 5, 2010 - Calgary Pride Parade, 8th Avenue and 8th Street SW, Calgary
• September 6, 2010 - EDLC Annual Labour Day Barbeque, Giovanni Caboto Park, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• September 6, 2010 - CDLC Annual Labour Day Barbeque, Calgary Olympic Plaza, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• September 10/11, 2010 - CDLC Municipal Election Training Workshop. For more details ...

Did you know ...

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• Between 2006 and 2009, there were 142 fatalities on Alberta worksites, but only four convictions for fatalities that occurred since 2006. That's a 2.8-per-cent conviction rate for worksite fatalities. If we add the 17 charges that are pending, Alberta prosecutes at a rate of 14.8 per cent. What about the 120 other workers who have lost their lives on worksites since 2006?
• All of the 2009-2010 convictions are on guilty pleas, which shows the government's unwillingness to litigate OH&S cases. They appear to only go to court when they have 100-per-cent chance of winning, meaning they aren't willing to put any resources toward making employers accountable.
• The vast majority of 2009-2010 convictions were for incidents that occurred more than four years ago. Victims and their families are waiting a long time for resolution.
• Since 2005, Alberta Justice can't account for eight of the 57 fines levied against employers, according to a Calgary Herald investigation into prosecutions/convictions.

McKesson Canada workers hit the picket lines in Edmonton

• 213 members of UFCW 401 at McKesson Canada in Edmonton are on strike, with the issues including wage parity with employees in Calgary and increases to benefits that have not changed in five years and have been eroded by inflation. Instead, management is seeking concessions.  For more information ...

Alberta's jobs crisis continues

• While Canada has recently seen an increase in full-time employment, Alberta has bucked the trend and has been shedding full-time jobs - 9,600 of them between May and June 2010. Instead of acting to improve the situation, the Alberta government has cut job-training programs, mostly aimed at helping youth and aboriginal workers. Meanwhile, social assistance caseloads have soared by 50 per cent. Read more at ...

Alberta has a revenue problem, not a spending problem

• The Alberta government revenue system is broken, as witnessed by wildly fluctuating revenue predictions and the resulting intense pressure on public services including health care and education. It's time for a grown-up conversation about how to fix the system and ensure we have the funds to pay for vital public services. For "Which Way Will We Pay?" and more information ...

Minimum wage increases do not lead to job losses

• New Alberta Federation of Labour research shows employment in service industries actually grows after minimum wages increases, said AFL president Gil McGowan in his presentation to a government panel reviewing Alberta's minimum wage. For more, read ...

Urgent Action

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Join the rally to support workers at Calgary Stampede July 13!
Park Operations workers at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede are seeking a first contract and need your help. Join them in a rally near the Stampede ground Tuesday, July 13. For details ...

Events

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July 13, 2010 - IAMAW Rally, Calgary
Time: 9:00 a.m. - gather to hand out flyer
11:00 a.m. - rally begins
Location: Calgary Stampede Exhibition grounds, Southern LRT exit ramp, Erlton Station, 25th Avenue and Macleod Trail South

July 31, 2010 - CUPW Edmonton Sandtrap Open (union@cupwedm.net)

August 9 to 13, 2010 - AFL Kids' Camp

August 29, 2010 - Big Splash Open Golf Tournament

September 6, 2010 - Edmonton District & Labour Council Labour Day Barbeque

Did you know ...

 

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The Alberta government has cut funding to the following job-training programs:

• Youth Connections 26.59%
• Career Development Services 12.68%
• Basic Skills/Academic Upgrading 16.55%
• Summer Temporary Employment 22.48%
• Workforce Partnerships 34.36%
• Aboriginal Development Partnerships 7.39%

Which way will we pay for our vital public services?

• Despite all the media reports and shrill calls for cuts, Alberta does not have a spending problem, it has a revenue problem. We could raise billions of dollars simply by making our overall tax regime comparable to other provinces. In a new report, the AFL calls for a grown-up conversation about how we can pay for the vital public services Albertans want. To become a part of this conversation, join us as we launch our new report.  For details ...

Let the government know how much you still value public health care

• The Alberta government is pressing ahead with its controversial health-care plans, giving the public little opportunity to have a say. After intense pressure, it has reversed its policy on invitation-only meetings on the issue and is now allowing the public to attend. It also has an online survey, full of code words and language that replicates the rhetoric of Ralph Klein's Third Way and the 2002 Mazankowski report. Privatization of our health-care system remains a threat. For information ...

Spending cuts hurt youth and aboriginals just when they need help

• The Alberta government cut spending on employment training programs by $23 million, despite its own numbers showing dramatic job losses in the province. The recession is hurting young people, aboriginal people, workers in forestry industries, and workers in the construction trades, just to name a few. And yet, AFL analysis shows that the government targeted funding cuts to programs that benefit those Albertans. For press release ...

Remember Bill 11? We do

• Bill 11 (Alberta Healthcare Protection Act) was introduced in April 2000. It was a blatant attempt by the government to privatize health care, but opposition through protests organized by labour and the Friends of Medicare forced the government to remove most of the offensive sections.  For the poster ...

Urgent Action

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Sign the petition on the future of education in Alberta

• The Alberta Government intends to introduce a new School Act. This act needs to be based on some key principles, among them that educational success should not depend on the background, social status or economic characteristics of learners and their families. For Alberta to thrive, all children must have the opportunity to find and nurture their talent. To read more ...

Events

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June 21, 2010 - National Aboriginal Day
For more information on community events leading up to the celebration, go to: http://www.aboriginal.alberta.ca/documents/NAD_eventListJune16.pdf

June 22, 2010 - No Free Lunch: Financing the Priorities of Calgarians (Parkland Institute)

7:00 p.m., University Alberta Calgary Centre
120, 333 - 5 Avenue SW

For more information, go to http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=128332787200279&ref=mf

June 25, 2010 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; June 26, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Labour Centre Meeting Hall (downstairs), 10425 Princess Elizabeth Avenue. For more information, go to: http://www.edlc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105:edmonton-municipal-election-training&catid=38:our-schools&Itemid=13

June 22, 2010 - Grande Prairie - Alberta Health Act Consultation

June 23, 2010 - Peace River - Alberta Health Act Consultation

Did you know ...

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• $5.5 billion - the amount Alberta could increase its revenue by abandoning the flat-rate income tax that benefits primarily wealthy Albertans;
• $10 billion to $18 billion - the amount Alberta could increase its revenue if it adopted an overall tax regime comparable to other provinces;
• $90 billion - the amount collected in non-renewable resource revenues since Alberta's net debt was eliminated in 1999-2000;
• $4 billion - amount put into the Heritage Fund since 2000;
• $5 billion - amount withdrawn from the Heritage Fund in since 2000;
• $135 billion - amount that would be in the Heritage Fund if all resource revenues had been put in since 2000;
• $7 billion - how much would be generated annually by the Heritage Fund of $135 billion;
• $135 billion - (that's another $135 billion) amount the province would have generated by collecting and saving resource rents at a rate closer to other oil-producing jurisdictions;
• $460 billion - the amount in Norway's Heritage Fund.

Have your say on health-care reform!

• The Alberta government is hosting 28 "invitation-only" meetings around the province as it plans sweeping changes to the health-care system. Friends of Medicare, supported by the Join Together Alberta campaign, is fighting to make sure the public has a voice by staging eight fully public meetings across the province. For more details ...

Alberta unprepared to keep workers safe if boom times return

• New research released by the AFL shows that government spending on workplace safety has not kept pace with growth in the provincial economy and population - and, as a result, workers around the province are being put at risk, especially if the economy ramps up for another boom. Click here for more information ...

Albertans have a right to a clean environment

• Inspired by NDP MP Linda Duncan's private member's bill to create a Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights (Bill C-469), the AFL Environment Committee wants the Alberta government to craft an environmental bill of rights covering the citizens of the province. For full text of the bill ...

Alberta's political landscape is changing

• The emergence of the Wildrose Alliance Party and the fracturing of the political landscape presents challenges and opportunities for the labour movement. Read all about it in the new Spring/Summer edition of the AFL's Union magazine.

Urgent Action

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Keep up the pressure for workplace health and safety

• The Auditor General's report severely criticized the government for failing to enforce workplace safety laws and called for action, including the naming of repeat corporate offenders. The AFL has long fought for stronger health and safety standards and enforcement. Workers have a right to know whether their workplace is safe or not. There is still time to pressure the Employment Minister to act. See the AFL press release on the report and the Auditor General's report - occupational health and safety

Events

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June 9, 2010 - Calgary/June 11, 2010 - Medicine Hat
On to Ottawa Trek

• 75th Celebration of On to Ottawa Trek

Saturday, June 5, 2010, Changing Together - Annual Multi-cultural Day (Centre for Immigrant Women) - light supper and entertainment

June 25/26, 2010 - EDLC/CLC Municipal Election Training

June 25, 2010 - 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; June 26, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Labour Centre Meeting Hall (downstairs), 10425 Princess Elizabeth Avenue. For more information...

June 18, 2010 - deadline for registrations for 2010 AFL Kids' Camp Camp dates are August 9 - 13, 2010

Camper Registration Form and Union Donations and Volunteer Form

Did you know ...

 

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• Alberta has more workplace fatalities than the national average, at 5.9 per 100,000 workers compared with 4.2 nationally
• The number of Albertans working in the four most dangerous industries has almost doubled since 1991, growing to 620,000 workers from 341,000
• Alberta employs fewer health and safety inspectors than the national average: 1.4 inspectors per 10,000 workers compared with the national figure of 2.1
• Alberta spends less per worker on occupational health and safety today (when 22 per cent of Albertans work in the top four dangerous industries) than the Getty government did in 1991 (when only 15 per cent of Albertans worked in the four most dangerous industries)

For more details ...

Lives of workers put at risk by government

• The government's shocking failure to enforce its own workplace safety laws is putting thousands of workers at risk, according to a new report from the Auditor General. Not only have companies that have violated the Occupational Health and Safety Act been allowed to continue without penalty, some have been awarded Certificates of Recognition that earn them WCB discounts and help them win contracts. The AFL has long fought for stronger health and safety standards and enforcement. It now calls on the government to quickly implement all recommendations made by the Auditor General, including the naming of those companies that are repeat offenders. Workers have a right to know whether their workplace is safe or not. Go to Call to Action - Report of the Alberta Auditor General for details or to the AFL release.

It's time to stop the exploitation of vulnerable temporary foreign workers

• The vast majority of temporary foreign workers in Alberta have been charged sometimes illegal fees ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 by "employment agencies," but the government of Alberta has failed to prosecute these agencies, says AFL's Temporary Foreign Worker Advocate. The government is now seeking feedback on changing legislation governing these agencies. We have until April 30 to tell them that we don't support exploitation. For more details ...

Alberta abandons leadership role in tackling crisis on pensions

• Finance Minister Ted Morton has played down the seriousness of the pensions crisis facing Canadians, reversing the position taken earlier by the Alberta government. Rather than pushing for a much-needed boost to the pensions system, Morton claims there is no crisis and no need for urgent action. "It looks like the government's commitment to push for meaningful changes is starting to evaporate," says Gil McGowan, president of the AFL.  For more information ...

Alberta continues to shed jobs while other provinces recover

• The latest figures from Statistics Canada reveal that unemployment in Alberta has risen to 7.5 per cent, its highest level since 1996 - and it's the only province that continues to lose jobs. There are 87,200 fewer Albertans working in full-time jobs today than there were at the top of the pre-recession boom in October 2008. While other provinces have embarked on stimulus programs to boost their economy, the Alberta government has chosen to stand idly by and watch jobs disappear. For details ...

Urgent Action

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Phone now to save union jobs

• The Yellow Pages Group has decided it will no longer print and distribute White Pages phone books. This may mean the loss of 42 jobs of members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union at World Color in Edmonton, where the directories are printed. It's also bad news for seniors who may not have access to online directories. But there is a chance to reverse the decision and save jobs. If you want White Pages delivered to homes and offices, call 1-877-909-9356. For more details ...

Events

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2010 AFL Kids' Camp
August 9 - 13, 2010

16th Annual AFL Kids' Camp, August 9 to 13, 2010. The theme for this year's camp is "Health and Safety: Not Just for Adults." The camp is open to children of all AFL affiliates.

Camper Registration Form and Union Donations and Volunteer Form
Deadline for registration is June 18, 2010.

Did you know ...

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• That there were 166 occupational fatalities in Alberta in 2008, compared to 154 the previous year;
• That 63 companies have failed to comply with Occupational Health and Safety orders after one year or more;
• That 31,000 employees work for those companies;
• That half of those companies that consistently fail to comply with OHS orders still hold valid Certificates of Recognition; andThat not one of those companies has been named by the Alberta government.

Alberta Auditor General Report, April 2010 - occupational health and safety

Despite all the spin, the recent budget is a cutting budget

• While the Stelmach government boosted health-care spending and held the line on education spending, in other ministries it was cut, cut, cut - a total of $1.3 billion in cuts in 14 ministries. Cuts include: Advanced Education and Technology by six per cent, or $205 million, which will lead to low-income students having to take on more loans, and to increased tuition fees; Children and Youth Services has by 3.1 per cent or $36 million, meaning less money for child care and for children in need; Housing and Urban Affairs by 18.6 per cent or $112 million, mainly in grants for affordable housing. For AFL analysis ...

Alberta women are falling behind

• A new study by the Edmonton-based Parkland Institute and the Womanspace Resource Centre in Lethbridge shows that the battle for rights and equality continues in this province (see AFL news release). The median income for Alberta women working full year, full time is 66 per cent of that earned by men. The gender wage gap is worse in Alberta than in all other provinces. The boom years have made things worse, not better, for Alberta's women. In 1993 women working full time earned 71 per cent of what men earned. For fact sheet ...

Getting our act together - at the AFL Membership Forum in April

• The end of the recession may be in sight - but storm clouds are still gathering on the horizon for workers and unions. Here in Alberta, we're facing the prospect of yet another round of deep cuts and privatization in the public sector. At this year's AFL Membership Forum we will address discuss how we can "Get Our Act Together" to more effectively protect the interests of working people in an increasingly hostile economic and political environment.

CLC backs boycott of furniture maker

• The Canadian Labour Congress has endorsed a national consumer boycott against Sklar Peppler, Alan White branded furniture, and its manufacturer, AW Manufacturing (http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/Officers-EAs/USW-request-EN-only.pdf). The boycott is in support of the United Steelworkers, which saw 100 members lose their jobs and severance pay when Sklar Peppler declared bankruptcy in 2008. The president of Sklar Peppler bought the assets out of bankruptcy, bought AW Manufacturing Inc. in Mississippi and now uses product from that plant to sell to Sklar's customers.

Urgent Action

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Join the fight for jobs, justice and equality at the Legislature, Saturday, March 20th
The fight to protect Alberta's public services is far from over. Last month's budget included spending cuts of $1.3 billion in 14 ministries. These cuts will damage the fabric of communities throughout the province and the Join Together Alberta coalition is keeping the pressure on government to save our services and will stage a march to the legislature on Saturday, March 20, 2010.

Events

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Join Together Rally

• March 20, 2010, 12:30 p.m.
• March from Shaw Conference Centre/MacEwan University/105 Street and Jasper Avenue
• Marches meet up at the Legislature at 1:00 p.m. for rally

Membership Forum 2010

• April 23 and 24, 2010
• SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary
• Deadline for registration is April 16, 2010
• Deadline for hotel registration is April 2, 2010

Did you know ...

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According to research by the Parkland Institute, Alberta spends less than 12 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on services, while the average among other provinces is 22.5 per cent. On the revenue side, if Alberta reverted to a progressive income tax (like all other provinces) instead of the flat tax, it would generate $5.5 billion in annual revenue, erasing the deficit at a stroke and provide funding for health, education and other vital services! For more details ...