ALF V1

The Alberta Federation of Labour today released Entrenching Exploitation, the second report of its Temporary Foreign Worker Advocate. The report provides an update on the living and working conditions of temporary foreign workers in Alberta. It also evaluates government responses to problems in the program and examines the state of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) during the economic downturn.

"The working and living conditions of temporary foreign workers in Alberta has not improved at all in the past couple of years," says AFL President Gil McGowan. "We continue to exploit these men and women with little regard to their rights."

"Even worse is that as the foreign worker program continues to expand, it is clear we are entrenching this exploitation for the long term."

The central conclusion of the report is that Canada, with Alberta at the head of the pack, is transforming the TFWP into a permanent migrant worker program. "Canada's so-called temporary solution to labour shortages is rapidly becoming a permanent part of our labour market," says TFW Advocate Yessy Byl. "We are modeling our guest worker program after Europe - who have created a permanent underclass of foreign workers with little access to citizenship or full labour rights."

The Report finds that since the downturn began many high-skilled foreign workers have been laid off and sent home, but that employers in the restaurant, hospitality and service industries continue to import new foreign workers. "The program, originally designed as a program for scientists, professors and engineers, is quickly becoming a haven for employers to bring in low-skilled workers as hotel housekeepers, fast food cooks and retail clerks," says Byl.

The Report offers 21 recommendations at improving conditions for foreign workers. The most important recommendations call for an end to the program in its current form and to allow temporary foreign workers currently in the country to receive permanent residency status, if they choose.

Other recommendations call for tighter restrictions on employers wanting to use the program, better and more active enforcement of employment rights, and a more limited role for the TFWP.

"This report informs the public of a serious policy shift that is occurring without public debate and without consideration of its impact on Canada and our labour market," McGowan concludes.

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For more information call:

Gil McGowan, AFL President (780) 483-3021 (office) (780) 218-9888 (cell)

AFL Convention Continues through Weekend

As part of its ongoing convention, the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) will be releasing the second report from its Temporary Foreign Worker Advocate.

Release of "Entrenching Exploitation: Second Report of AFL's TFW Advocate"

Saturday, April 25th, Noon

Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe, 10111 Bellamy Hill, Edmonton

"Klondike A" Room (3rd Floor)

In December 2008, there were 57,000 temporary foreign workers in Alberta, a growing number of which are low-skilled workers. The new report provides an update on the living and working conditions of foreign workers, evaluates current government responses to the program's problems and examines the effect of the economic downturn.

The AFL's TFW Advocate, Yessy Byl, will be present to release the report. Some temporary foreign workers will also be available for media inquiries.

Other highlights of the Saturday agenda at the AFL Convention include:

• 10:00 a.m.: Michelle Bissett, Australian Council of Trade Unions, on building union political power through elections
• 11:00 a.m.: Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
• 1:30 p.m.: Brian Mason, Leader, Alberta NDP

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For more information call:

Gil McGowan, AFL President (780) 483-3021 (office) (780) 218-9888 (cell)

The death of two foreign workers from China at a sprawling oilsands project in northern Alberta has led to the most charges ever laid in a single workplace accident in Alberta.

The Tory government announced Tuesday - two years after their deaths - that three companies face a total of 53 charges in the collapse of a giant holding tank at a construction site in April 2007.

The charges against Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and two other companies have been laid under the province's Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The maximum penalty for a first offence under the act is $500,000 for each charge.

Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Company Ltd., and SSEC Canada Ltd. also face numerous charges including several counts for failing to ensure the health and safety of the workers.

But Barrie Harrison, spokesman for Alberta's labour ministry, said the province has not been able to serve the charges on the Chinese engineering company, which no longer has an office in Calgary.

"At some point there may have to be clarification by the courts as to whether we have jurisdiction to charge this company," he said. "Our prosecutors are not going to lay the charges unless they feel we have jurisdiction."

"But at this point, we're expecting all three companies to appear in court June 8 in Fort McMurray."

The two Chinese workers were killed and two others were seriously injured when the roof of a huge oil container collapsed as it was being put in place.

The charges include failing to ensure that a professional engineer prepared and certified drawings and procedures and failing to ensure the roof support structure inside the tank was stable during assembly.

The construction was part of expansion at the Horizon oilsands project near Fort McKay, about 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

Harrison said it's the largest number of the charges laid in relation to a single workplace incident in the province.

Premier Ed Stelmach said the province places the highest priority on worker safety.

"We've got to be very clear to anybody that's doing business in Alberta," he said. "Whether it's a temporary foreign worker or an Albertan, these are the rules that you follow and the safety of workers is paramount."

One of Alberta's most outspoken labour leaders says this deadly incident was especially shocking because oilsands companies have a relatively good safety record.

"Up until that incident, fatalities were a rarity in the oilsands," said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour.

McGowan also says the labour group's own research has confirmed that there have been almost no accidents in the province involving large oil storage tanks.

The labour leader is glad the companies involved are being prosecuted and wondered why it took two years for the charges to be laid.

The premier said the investigation was "very complex."

Daily Commercial News and Construction Record, Thurs Apr 24 2009

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