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The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) held a public forum recently to brief unions about concerns relating to the increase in use of the federal government's temporary foreign worker (TFW) program.

According to figures from the federal department of Citizenship and Immigration, there were 22,392 temporary foreign workers in Alberta in 2006, more than double the 11,067 workers who were in the province in 2003.

TFWs are employed in a wide range of economic sectors in Alberta, including oilsands operations and the construction trades.

In response to this trend, the AFL established a TFW advocate in April 2007 to offer services and assistance, free-of-charge, to foreign workers who are having difficulties at work or immigration.

The advocate is a trained legal professional in Alberta with expertise in employment issues and immigration.

As a result of the expertise developed as an advocate for TFW's in the last year, the AFL held a public forum on March 18 to discuss concerns and trends, as well as give advice to unions.

"Recently, most employers bringing temporary foreign workers into the country were non-union," said Gil McGowan, AFL president. "We held the forum, because we felt the need to give unions more information about the (TFW) program, before unions start dealing with the issue."

According to McGowan, two years ago TFW's worked predominantly in construction. However the mix is starting to change and today TFW's are overwhelmingly in low-skill work, such as cooks and chamber maids.

Another interesting trend is that the City of Calgary and several health authorities have plans to bring in a large number of TFW's.

"It is very unusual that the City of Calgary is doing it. They are looking for trades, with a focus on hiring heavy duty mechanics," said Mike Mahar, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Daily Construction News and Daily Record, Wed Apr 2 2008
Byline: Richard Gilbert

The head of Alberta's largest labour group is calling out the provincial government for what he says is a "drop in the bucket" when it comes to the minimum wage.

The rate increases as of Tuesday, April 1st is from $8 to $8.40 an hour.
The Alberta Federation of Labour says with the cost of living so high in this province, the minimum wage should be at least $12.

Federation President Gill McGowan says he doesn't buy the provincial government's argument only a small number of Albertans actually get paid the minimum.

Alberta Employment and Immigration spokesperson Janice Schroeder says they look at the average weekly wage and adjust the minimum based on that.

Not factoring in taxes, Alberta's minimum wage is third in the country behind Ontario and Manitoba.

CHQR Newsroom, Tues Apr 1 2008

Black Gold, Clear Vision: A Proposed Policy Framework for the Alberta Oil Sands (Spring 2008)

The AFL believes that Albertans need to be clear about where we want to go and what tools we need to get there. With a clear vision and a clear plan, we are convinced that Alberta can move "from good to great" and transform itself into one of the most prosperous and progressive jurisdictions in the world.

The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) held a public forum last week to brief unions about concerns relating to the increase in use of the federal government's temporary foreign worker (TFW) program.

According to figures from the federal department of Citizenship and Immigration, there were 22,392 temporary foreign workers in Alberta in 2006, which is more than double the 11,067 workers who were in the province in 2003.

TFWs are employed in a wide range of economic sectors in Alberta, including oil sands operations and the construction trades.

In response to this trend, the AFL established a TFW advocate in April 2007 to offer services and assistance, free-of-charge, to foreign workers who are having difficulties at work or immigration.

The advocate is a trained legal professional in Alberta with expertise in employment issues and immigration.

As a result of the expertise developed as an advocate for TFW's in the last year, the AFL held a public forum on March 18 to discuss concerns and trends, as well as give advice to unions.

"Recently, most employers bringing temporary foreign workers into the country were non-union," said Gil McGowan, AFL president. "We held the forum, because we felt the need to give unions more information about the (TFW) program, before unions start dealing with the issue."

According to McGowan, two years ago TFW's worked predominantly in construction. However the mix is starting to change and today TFW's are overwhelmingly in low skill work, such as cooks and chamber maids.

Another interesting trend is that the City of Calgary and several health authorities have plans to bring in a large number of TFW's.

"It is very unusual that the City of Calgary is doing it. They are looking for trades, with a focus on hiring heavy duty mechanics," said Mike Mahar, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union. "They want to hire 17 mechanics. They are also looking at hiring 200 bus drivers."

Journal of Commerce, Mon Mar 31 2008
Byline: Richard Gilbert

EDMONTON - Several union spokespeople with extensive experience on issues related to the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker program will make presentations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration when it visits Edmonton tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, April 1^st).

The committee will hear from Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan as well as the AFL's Temporary Foreign Worker Advocate, Yessy Byl.

In addition, presentations will be made by representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Both unions represent thousands of workers in the two sectors that have seen the most dramatic spikes in the use of temporary foreign workers - the construction and service sectors.

"Employers and governments have embraced the TFW program as a silver bullet to deal with Alberta's increasingly tight labour market," says McGowan. "But we'll be demonstrating that the program is failing both Canadians and foreign workers badly."

The committee hearings will take place between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., April 1, 2008, in the Empire Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. The hotel is located at 10065-100 Street in downtown Edmonton.

Byl is scheduled to address the committee between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. McGowan and representatives from UFCW and IBEW will give their presentations between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The cross-country hearings are being held to gather information for a report the Standing Committee is preparing for Parliament on the Temporary Foreign Worker program - which is a program administered by the federal government.

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For more information contact:

Gil McGowan, AFL President @ 780.483-3021 (office) or 780.218-9888 (cell)

Cochrane Times - As of April 1, Alberta's minimum wage will increase from $8 to $8.40 per hour. According to Premier Ed Stelmach, the wage increase will ensure that it keeps pace with other salary increases in Alberta.

"Alberta's experiencing a time of great prosperity," Stelmach said. "Wages have increased about five per cent and we're ensuring minimum wage earners are sharing in this growth."

Last June, the provincial government announced that increases to the minimum wage would be based on the average weekly wage index and would come into effect April 1, 2008. The index is based on Statistics Canada's annual survey of employment, payroll and hours.

"With Alberta's vibrant economy and low unemployment, most employers are already paying more than minimum wage," Minister of Employment and Immigration Hector Goudreau said.

However, not everyone in Alberta is impressed with the increase. The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) contends that the increase is too small, because the base rate is too low.

"Alberta's current minimum wage is simply too low," AFL president Gil McGowan said. "We estimate that a living wage right now in the province would have to be at least $10 per hour, so the government-mandated increase to $8.40 per hour as of April 1 this year is actually very disappointing."

McGowan added that Alberta workers need a minimum wage that actually reflects the high cost of living in the province.

"A minimum wage, after all, should prevent full-time workers from living below the poverty line," he said.

About 70,000 people, or 3.5 per cent, of working Albertans make minimum wage.

The majority are 15- to 19-year-olds working in the food service and hospitality industries.

Despite the fact that with the increase, Alberta's minimum wage remains the highest in Canada after taxes, McGowan proposes to first raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour and then index it.

"Let's start with a realistic and fair minimum wage - and then take it from there," he said.

Even before taxes, Alberta will have the third-highest minimum wage among the provinces, behind only Ontario ($8.75) and Manitoba ($8.50).
Employers and employees with questions about minimum wage can contact the Employment Standards contact centre at 780-427-3731 (toll-free in Alberta by first dialing 310-0000) or visit: www.employment.alberta.ca/es for more information.

Cochrane Times, Wed Mar 26 2008
Byline: Stacie Snow

Alberta's minimum wage will increase from $8 to $8.40 per hour on April 1.

"Alberta's experiencing a time of great prosperity," said Premier Ed Stelmach, adding that the wage increase will ensure that it keeps pace with other salary increases in Alberta.

"Wages have increased about five per cent and we're ensuring minimum wage earners are sharing in this growth."

Last June, government announced increases to minimum wage would be based on the average weekly wage index and come into effect on April 1.

The index is based on Statistics Canada's annual survey of employment, payroll and hours.

"With Alberta's vibrant economy and low unemployment, most employers are already paying more than minimum wage," said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment and Immigration.

However, not everyone in Alberta is impressed with the increase.

The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) contends that the increase is too small because the base rate is too low.

"Alberta's current minimum wage is simply too low," said AFL president Gil McGowan.

"We estimate that a living wage right now in the province would have to be at least $10 per hour. So the government-mandated increase to $8.40 per hour as of April 1 this year is actually very disappointing."

McGowan added that Alberta workers need a minimum wage that actually reflects the high cost of living in Alberta.

"A minimum wage, after all, should prevent full-time workers from living below the poverty line."

About 70,000 or 3.5 per cent of working Albertans make minimum wage.

The majority are 15 to 19 year olds working in the food service and hospitality industries.

Despite the fact that with the increase, Alberta's minimum wage remains the highest in Canada after taxes, McGowan proposes to first raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour and then index it.

"Let's start with a realistic and fair minimum wage -- and then take it from there," he said.

Even before taxes, Alberta will have the third highest minimum wage among provinces, behind only Ontario ($8.75) and Manitoba ($8.50).

Employers and employees with questions about minimum wage can contact the Employment Standards Contact Centre at 780-427-3731 (toll free in Alberta by first dialing 310-0000) or visit employment.alberta.ca/es for more information.

Alberta's minimum wage will jump to $8.40 per hour from $8 per hour on April 1, making it the highest minimum wage in Canada after taxes, but the Alberta Federation of Labour says it's still not enough.

Last June, the province announced that the minimum wage would be adjusted according to the average weekly wage index beginning in April. The index is based on an annual survey of employment, payroll and hours provided by Statistics Canada.

This year's five per cent increase is due to a 4.7 per cent increase in Alberta's average weekly wages from January 2007 through December 2007, according to Stephanie Francis of Alberta Employment and Education.

"It was rounded up to make it easier for payroll, for employers. And it's also more understandable for everyone as well," she said.

Because minimum wages are based on the average weekly wage index there are two possible outcomes, according to Francis.

If the average weekly wage increases, the minimum wage increases by the same per cent. If it remains the same or decreases, the minimum wage will stay the same.

"The minimum wage will never decrease," Francis said.

Though Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, approves of the government's decision to have minimum wage increased according to the average weekly wage index, he said it still doesn't allow for an adequate income.

He said the minimum wage should have been adjusted to the average weekly wage index years ago and it has limited effect now because the base rate is too low.

"The real value of the minimum wage has eroded substantially," McGowan said.

"Eight dollars and forty cents is simply not enough to keep someone out of poverty anywhere in Alberta, especially in high-cost locations like Fort McMurray, Calgary, Edmonton, even Fort Saskatchewan," he said.

"At that wage you would have to work 100 hours per week to keep yourself above the poverty line."

McGowan said he would like to see the base rate increased to about $11 to $12 per hour and then have it indexed as it is.

"Until that happens, the minimum wage in this province still won't be doing what it is supposed to be doing."

But Francis said the majority of those earning minimum wage are younger than 20 years old.

"Many of them are still living at home and this is a way for them to earn a little extra money that they might like to have," she said, adding that Alberta's minimum wage is meant to keep pace with minimum wages across the country.

Before taxes, Alberta will have the third highest minimum wage in the country come April 1. Only Ontario and Manitoba have higher minimum wages.

According to Alberta Employment and Immigration, 3.5 per cent of Alberta workers, about 70,000 people, are earning minimum wage. The majority are 15 to 19 years old and are working in food services and hospitality.

Francis said the next potential increase could come in April 2009.

Fort Saskatchewan Record, Tues Mar 25 2008
Byline: Paul Grigaitis

The City of Calgary is joining in the rush in Alberta for temporary foreign workers and will be searching overseas for city planners, heavy-duty mechanics and up to 200 bus drivers.

In a first for the city, Mayor Dave Bronconnier and an entourage of city managers and employees will travel to London and Leeds, England, in June to make a pitch for more than 250 temporary foreign workers at a job fair being organized by a private British company, said Cindy Munn, who leads corporate recruitment at the city.

The city is looking at other countries as well -- although it hasn't decided which ones -- and the plan could soon be expanded to include foreign emergency medical workers, she said.

The mayor said Wednesday it's not a new concept to bring city workers in from other countries.

The city had to attract foreign skilled workers, such as planners, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well.

"I'm not going to put my head in the sand and suggest that we don't have a human resources challenge because we do," Bronconnier said. "If we get the right people, which is what we're looking for, yes, we want to bring them here."

The June trip to the United Kingdom will cost the city about $185,000, Munn said.

The temporary foreign worker program, which allows outsiders to work in Canada for a limited period if employers demonstrate they can't find suitable Canadian or permanent residents to fill the job, has exploded in popularity recently in Alberta, alongside the province's deepening labour shortage.

Service Canada reports that applications for more than 100,000 foreign workers poured into federal offices in Alberta over the past 12 months, mostly for private companies, but also for post-secondary institutions and hospitals.

But the federal program, which has come to include more unskilled workers in recent years, hasn't expanded without controversy.

Labour leaders say bringing in workers from other countries allows employers to keep wages artificially low, and foreigners who are in Canada only at the behest of an employer are more likely to be exploited or abused -- unlike traditional immigrants who are free to get work wherever they chose.

"We are in the process of creating an underclass of disposable workers," said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, who said he is disappointed by the city's move towards the temporary foreign worker program.

In the city's case, Munn said, said the workers will be brought to Calgary under the temporary foreign workers program and then move toward citizenship through the provincial nominee program. The city will give the workers help with housing and provide other settlement services, and they will be able to bring their families.

She said the city will continue to try to recruit labour from within Canada. But if all goes well with this first bid, more temporary foreign workers will be brought in.

"We have done a lot of forecasting. And so what we see is that there's going to be significant retirements within the organization over the next five years," Munn said. "We are at the very beginning of what could become an issue."

But already, Calgary Transit is short about 200 drivers and 14 heavy-duty mechanics, said spokesman Ron Collins.

Transit operators receive five weeks of paid training. The starting hourly wage for driving a shuttle bus is $17.68, and for a regular bus it's $20.44, going up to $25.55 an hour in three years -- plus benefits.

"We feel it's a competitive wage," Collins said. "The difficulty is it's a red-hot economy here in Alberta."

But Mike Mahar, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said he doesn't think the city will have much success in getting people from the U.K. to come to Calgary because the wages are too low and living costs are too high.

"There's a lot of other jobs out there that will pay better that are less stringent. It's a tough job and a lot of people find out shortly that it's not what they thought it was," Mahar said.

But Alan Davies, a licensed immigration consultant in Calgary, said when the economy is good, private sector jobs tend to be more attractive than government work. It's understandable the city wants to bring in temporary foreign workers, too, he said.

"Who is going to come here if we don't have services?" Davies said.

The City of Edmonton, too, was offered the chance to go to the British job fair -- called Opportunities Canada Expo.

However, Helen Ngan-Pare, the head of recruitment for the City of Edmonton, said they will look to hire recent immigrants and refugees instead of temporary foreign workers.

"There's enough of a local labour pool," Ngan-Pare said.

Calgary Herald, Thurs Mar 20 2008
Byline: Kelly Cryderman

The increasing ethnic and racial diversity of the province requires extra vigilance by Albertans against racism and intolerance, says the Alberta Federation of Labour today.

"Thousands of new immigrants and temporary foreign workers are flocking to Alberta as a consequence of our booming economy," says AFL President Gil McGowan. "We need to ensure that all these workers not only enjoy the same rights and protections that current citizens enjoy - but that they are also welcomed into our society."

"That means going beyond mere 'tolerance' of ethnic and racial diversity," says McGowan. "We need to ensure that new Albertans feel safe, welcome and are encouraged to become active members of our communities and broader society."

"The Alberta government can and should do more to protect new Canadian workers' human rights, prevent exploitation and ensure they are treated fairly when they come to our province. That means enforcing workplace regulations scrupulously and providing much more funding to all of the various social agencies and NGOs that work to help their transition into Canadian society."

"The government should lead by example by making it a priority to assist and welcome these new Canadian workers - whether their status is temporary or not," concludes McGowan.

Forty-one years ago, the United Nations declared that March 21^st would be the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This date was chosen to commemorate the Sharpeville Massacre, when in 1960 South African police shot and killed 69 people who were peacefully demonstrating against the apartheid regime.

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For more information contact:

Gil McGowan, AFL President @ 780.483-3021 (office) or 780.218-9888 (cell)