Maria Dunn to Bring Songs of Work & Sisterhood to Red Deer
RED DEER: One of Alberta's best-known folk singers is coming to Red Deer to present songs about the life of immigrant women workers in one of Alberta's longest standing manufacturing facilities.
Maria Dunn will lead a trio of performers into the Snell Auditorium at the Red Deer Public Library at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, 2012 as part of a province-wide tour to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Alberta Federation of Labour. The tour, which consists of 13 concerts, will wrap up in the Crowsnest Pass during its Doors Open Festival on the August long weekend.
In GWG: Piece by Piece, Maria presents stories about the immigrant women who built a new life around the work they found in Edmonton's Great West Garment plant - a plant which was bought out by Levi Strauss, and moved to Haiti in 2004 after 93 years in Alberta. Many of her songs are based on research conducted by Edmonton historian Catherine C. Cole, through which she depicts the resilience, hope and sisterhood in workplace and Union that brought these women through the challenges and hardships they faced. Appearing with Maria Dunn will be Shannon Johnson (violin, vocal) and Sharmila Mathur (sitar, percussion), both well-known artists in their own right.
This multimedia event will utilize video to introduce as well as situate songs in their historical context, with visual images of the people and the locations in which the stories occurred. In each case, Maria will add her own personal introduction before presenting the song, a combination which will make for an engaging and educational 60-minute presentation.
A Juno-nominated storyteller through song, Maria's lyrics are set to melodies inspired by Celtic and North American folk traditions. The songs she presents in this concert, as well as in "Troublemakers," the other concert on this tour, continues a tradition of labour music which has played an important part in the history of work and workers' organizations. Maria has performed at union and political gatherings, fundraisers and concerts across Alberta and Canada, as well as in other parts of the world. She writes her own material, and has worked with Ground Zero Productions, Shannon Johnson and such writers as Catherine Cole to produce the concerts that will make up the 2012 Centennial Tour. (See Maria's website at www.mariadunn.com)
The Red Deer Concert is organized in conjunction with a local union committee that is working with the Red Deer & District Labour Council on plans to commemorate the AFL Centennial by mounting a large stainless steel Labour Disc on the outer wall of the Central Alberta Trades & Labour Society (CATALS) Building in downtown Red Deer. The completed project will be unveiled in a 2012 Dedication Ceremony on Labour Day, September 3, 2012.
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For more information or for tickets, call:
Karen Reay, Red Deer & District Labour Council at 403-391-4242 [email protected]
Ken Collier, Red Deer 2012 Centennial Group at 403-342-7989 [email protected]
Kirsti Tamblyn, Ground Zero Productions at 780-420-1400 [email protected]
Calgary to Mark 100 Years of Alberta Labour with City History Tour
Celebrations are underway across the province to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Alberta Federation of Labour, and Calgary trade unionists have plans to mark the Centennial by drawing attention to their city's rich and dynamic labour history.
A 2012 group of trade union and community activists attached to the Calgary & District Labour Council are launching a "Calgary Labour Walk," a project designed to provide a different perspective on the city's history by focusing on places where events of significance to working people took place.
Group leader Susan Keeley says, "While the recent elections may reinforce the idea that the Calgary area has a conservative mindset, history tells us this has long been the centre of a fight for workers' rights. It's important that Calgarian don't forget their history and how working people built the success this city now enjoys. That's why we organized this labour walk."
The group's research has uncovered fascinating stories about the achievements, losses and victories of the workers who built and maintained our city at the same time as they struggled to build a decent life for themselves and their families.
From the stonemasons who cut sandstone in the 17th Avenue Quarry for some of Calgary's grandest buildings to the municipal workers who ran the city, but also spearheaded the formation of Canada's largest union; from the skilled tradespeople who serviced locomotives in the CPR's Ogden Shops to the hospital workers who repeatedly took the government to task with demands for quality healthcare, the workers' history provides a decidedly different view of the way the City was built and maintained.
A number of the identified sites have been incorporated into a large fold-out map of Calgary with images, locations and descriptions, and thousands of copies printed. It will all be launched at 2:00 p.m. on May 5, 2012 at the CUPE 37 Hall at 5112 3 Street SE, Calgary, where transit buses have been engaged and tour guides trained to take people on a tour of the Labour Walk.
Participants are invited to come back to the CUPE Hall for an evening of food, refreshments and a labour history concert, Troublemakers: Working Albertans, 1900-1950, presented by Maria Dunn as part of a province-wide tour to celebrate the AFL Centennial through song.
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For more information contact:
Susan Keeley, Retired CUPE Representative 403-248-2472 [email protected]
Nick Lepora, CEP, VP, Calgary Labour Council 403-278-5216 [email protected]
Winston Gereluk, 2012 Centennial Coordinator, 780-483-3012 [email protected]
Picnic and other events help mark city’s 100-year labour history
The Alberta Federation of Labour got its start in Lethbridge in 1912, and will hold several events at the beginning of May to commerate its 100th anniversary, with a little help from the Galt Museum.
The key event will be an all-ages picnic on May 5 from noon to 4 p.m at Galt Gardens. The event will begin with a union march from City Hall at 11 a.m. and will end at the park where the picnic will start. There will be music from the Lethbridge Gold and Silver Band and the Bamboo Guppies throughout the day. The Galt Museum will also be holding its Saturday program at the park, featuring old-fashioned picnic games such as a three-legged race. The event is free for everyone to attend.
"The event will highlight the strength of the labour movement in the past, and also its future," said Shannon Phillips, speaking on behalf of the Alberta Federation of Labour.
"We're not just about strikes. We're here to celebrate the history of the movement, and the people who sweated and died so we can have the convenient life we have today," said Richard Merrick, the president of the Lethbridge and District Labour Council.
Merrick said it was easy to organize the event among the 20 labour unions in Lethbridge.
"The energy is just unbelievable among everyone," he said.
The Alberta Federation of Labour will be taking donations for the food banks in Lethbridge on the day of the picnic.
On May 3, the Galt Museum begins displaying an exhibit showcasing the history of labour unions throughout Alberta, which will run until Oct. 8. The exhibit consists of not only artifacts from various unions, but 13 text panels that tell the history of the labour movement in Alberta, developed with the assistance of the Alberta Labour History Institute. One of the panels specifically describes the history of the Alberta Federation of Labour in Lethbridge.
The exhibit will travel across Alberta once it has finished its run in Lethbridge, said Wendy Aitkens, curator for the Galt Museum.
On May 4, the Galt Museum holds a concert by Maria Dunn, a Juno Award-nominated folk artist from Edmonton. Dunn performed at the Galt last year, and her performance this year will incorporate photos and videos from the Provincial Archives related to unionization.
Tickets are free and can be picked up at the museum, although last week, almost all of the 200 available tickets were handed out.
Lethbridge Sun Times, Wed May 2 2012
Maria Dunn to Perform ‘Troublemakers’ in the East Coulee School Museum
Juno-nominated folksinger's tour celebrates 100 years of labour history
One of Alberta's best-known folk singers is coming to the Drumheller Valley to present stories about the early years of Alberta labour through song.
Maria Dunn will lead a trio of performers into the East Coulee School Museum on Sunday afternoon, May 6, 2012 as part of a Province-wide tour to celebrate the Centennial of the Alberta Federation of Labour. Appearing before Maria will be Drumheller native and singer-songwriter Joe Vickers, who will present some of his own songs that were inspired by the rich mining history of the Valley.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the AFL's Centennial celebrations," says Juno-nominated Maria Dunn. "It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of the labour movement in Alberta, to remind ourselves where we come from, and to ensure that we preserve these precious, hard-won rights - the right to collective bargaining, unemployment insurance, equal pay for women, public education, living wages, workers' health and safety standards and compensation, public health care, pensions, and so much more."
The concert Maria will present in Drumheller is Troublemakers: Working Albertans, 1900-1950, which documents the history of working people in Alberta's early days, depicting the resilience and hope which brought them through experiences of immigration, internment, exploitation and the Great Depression. She will sing of union organizers, feminists and radicals who led the earliest struggles, attracting the attention and punishment of the authorities. Appearing with Maria Dunn will be Shannon Johnson (fiddle) and Terry Morrison (guitar), both well-known artists in their own right.
This multimedia event will utilize video to introduce as well as situate songs in their historical context, with visual images of the people and the locations in which the stories occurred. In each case, Maria will add her own personal introduction before presenting the song, a combination which will make for an engaging and educational 60-minute presentation.
Troublemakers is presented as part of the Drumheller Valley's second annual Mayday Miners Festival, which will kick-off with a procession in downtown Drumheller on May 5 with people carrying a placard bearing the name of a miner in their family tree. This will be followed by a street festival with Outhouse Games, music, historic characters, and a barbeque. Other events include Pony Days at the Atlas Coal Mine, a display of historic photographs at the new community facility, "Meet a Miner" at historic mine sites, and the Maria Dunn concert at the East Coulee School Museum on May 6. For more information, see www.atlascoalmine.ab.ca/specialevents
A Juno-nominated storyteller through song, Maria's lyrics are set to melodies inspired by Celtic and North American folk traditions. Many of the songs in Troublemakers appear in Maria's 2004 CD, We Were Good People, Producer: Shannon Johnson with the McDades, Craig Korth, Byron Myhre, Michael Jerome Browne and others.
This concert, as well as GWG: Piece-by-Piece, the other presentation for this tour, continues a tradition of labour music that has played an important part in the history of work and workers' organizations. Maria has entertained in hundreds of union and political gatherings, fundraisers and concerts across Alberta and Canada, as well as in other parts of the world. She writes her own material, and has worked with Ground Zero Productions, Shannon Johnson and such writers as Catherine Cole to produce the concerts that will make up the 2012 Centennial Tour.
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For more information or for tickets, call:
Maria Dunn, 780-430-8560
Susan Keeley, Retired CUPE Rep, 403-607-0433 [email protected]
Or contact: Winston Gereluk, AFL Office, 780-483-3021 [email protected]
Maria Dunn to Perform ‘Troublemakers’ at CUPE 37 Hall in Calgary
Juno-nominated folksinger's tour celebrates 100 years of labour history
One of Alberta's best-known folk singers is coming to Calgary to present stories about the early years of Alberta labour through song.
Maria Dunn will lead a trio of performers into the CUPE 37 Hall, headquarters for Calgary's outside workers, on Saturday evening, May 5, 2012 as part of a Province-wide tour to celebrate the Centennial of the Alberta Federation of Labour. The tour, which consists of 13 concerts, will wrap up in the Crowsnest Pass during its Doors Open Festival on the August long weekend.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the AFL's Centennial celebrations," says Juno-nominated Maria Dunn. "It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of the labour movement in Alberta, to remind ourselves about where we come from, and to ensure that we preserve these precious, hard-won rights - the right to collective bargaining, unemployment insurance, equal pay for women, public education, living wages, workers' health and safety standards and compensation, public health care, pensions, and so much more."
The Calgary stop will cap off a day in which area trade unionists will be taking the "Calgary Labour Walk," a project for which local trade unionists and activists have identified places in the City where events of significance to labour have taken place. These will be incorporated into a large fold-out map to be used during the tour. Plans are to engage Calgary Transit buses to take people to various sites - then back to the CUPE 37 Hall for the Maria Dunn concert.
The concert Maria will present is Troublemakers: Working Albertans, 1900-1950, which documents the history of working people in Alberta's early days, depicting the resilience and hope which brought them through experiences of immigration, internment, exploitation and the Great Depression. She will sing of union organizers, feminists and radicals who led the earliest struggles, attracting the attention and punishment of the authorities. Appearing with Maria Dunn will be Shannon Johnson (fiddle) and Terry Morrison (guitar), both well-known artists in their own right.
This multimedia event will utilize video to introduce as well as situate songs in their historical context, with visual images of the people and the locations in which the stories occurred. In each case, Maria will add her own personal introduction before presenting the song, a combination which will make for an engaging and educational 60-minute presentation.
A Juno-nominated storyteller through song, Maria's lyrics are set to melodies inspired by Celtic and North American folk traditions. Many of the songs in Troublemakers appear in Maria's 2004 CD, We Were Good People, Producer: Shannon Johnson with the McDades, Craig Korth, Byron Myhre, Michael Jerome Browne and others.
This concert, as well as GWG: Piece-by-Piece, the other presentation for this tour, continues a tradition of labour music that has played an important part in the history of work and workers' organizations. Maria has entertained in hundreds of union and political gatherings, fundraisers and concerts across Alberta and Canada, as well as in other parts of the world. She writes her own material and has worked with Ground Zero Productions, Shannon Johnson and such writers as Catherine Cole to produce the concerts that will make up the 2012 Centennial Tour.
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For more information or for tickets, call:
Maria Dunn, 780-430-8560
Susan Keeley, Retired CUPE Representative 403-248-2472 [email protected]
Nick Lepora, CEP, VP, Calgary Labour Council 403-278-5216 [email protected]
Winston Gereluk, AFL Office at 780-483-3012 [email protected]
Maria Dunn to Perform ‘Troublemakers’ at the Galt Museum
Juno-nominated folksinger's tour celebrates 100 years of labour history
One of Alberta's best-known folk singers is coming to Lethbridge to present stories about the early years of Alberta labour through song.
Maria Dunn will lead a trio of performers into the Galt Museum and Archives on Friday, May 4, 2012 as the second stop in a province-wide tour that is part of Centennial celebrations of the Alberta Federation of Labour. The tour consists of 13 concerts, and will wrap-up in the Crowsnest Pass during the August long weekend.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the AFL's Centennial celebrations," says Juno-nominated Maria Dunn. "It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of the labour movement in Alberta, to remind ourselves where we come from, and to ensure that we preserve these precious, hard-won rights - the right to collective bargaining, unemployment insurance, equal pay for women, public education, living wages, workers' health and safety standards and compensation, public health care, pensions, and so much more."
The Maria Dunn concert, which is being hosted by the Galt Museum & Archives, will take place on the eve of a Centennial "Picnic in Park" being organized by a local committee in Lethbridge, the birthplace of the Alberta Federation of Labour 100 years ago.
The concert Maria will present is Troublemakers: Working Albertans, 1900-1950, which documents the history of working people in Alberta's early days, depicting the resilience and hope which brought them through experiences of immigration, internment, exploitation and the Great Depression. She will sing of union organizers, feminists and radicals who led the earliest struggles, attracting the attention and punishment of the authorities. Appearing with Maria Dunn will be Shannon Johnson (fiddle) and Terry Morrison (guitar), both well-known artists in their own right.
This multimedia event will utilize video to introduce as well as situate songs in their historical context, with visual images of the people and the locations in which the stories occurred. In each case, Maria will add her own personal introduction before presenting the song, a combination which will make for an engaging and educational 60-minute presentation.
Centennial Celebrations on Saturday, May 5th will begin with a "March of Unions" at City Hall, where marchers will gather at 11:15 a.m. for a short ceremony. They will then proceed to the Galt Gardens to kick off a "Picnic-in-the-Park" at 12:15 p.m., with greetings from the City and labour leaders and an introduction of local union presidents. This will be followed by a picnic lunch that will allow adults to relax while children take part in races, face painting, bouncy castles, games and other activities. Music will be provided all afternoon by the Lethbridge Band and the Bamboo Guppies.
A Juno-nominated storyteller through song, Maria's lyrics are set to melodies inspired by Celtic and North American folk traditions. Many of the songs in Troublemakers appear in Maria's 2004 CD, We Were Good People, Producer: Shannon Johnson with the McDades, Craig Korth, Byron Myhre, Michael Jerome Browne and others.
This concert, as well as GWG: Piece-by-Piece, the other presentation for this tour, continues a tradition of labour music that has played an important part in the history of work and workers' organizations. Maria has entertained in hundreds of union and political gatherings, fundraisers and concerts across Alberta and Canada, as well as in other parts of the world. She writes her own material and has worked with Ground Zero Productions, Shannon Johnson and such writers as Catherine Cole to produce the concerts that will make up the 2012 Centennial Tour.
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For information, contact:
Maria Dunn, 780-430-8560
Leslie Hall, Galt Museum, Tel: 403-320-4700 [email protected];
Richard Merrick, President, Lethbridge Labour Council 403-942-1229 [email protected]
Or call: Winston Gereluk, AFL Office at 780-483-3021 [email protected]
Maria Dunn to Perform ‘Troublemakers’ at Medalta Potteries
Juno-nominated folksinger's tour celebrates 100 years of labour history
One of Alberta's best-known folk singers is coming to Medicine Hat to present stories about the early years of Alberta labour through song.
Maria Dunn will lead a trio of performers into Medalta Potteries on Thursday evening, May 3, 2012 to kick off a province-wide tour as part of the Centennial celebrations of the Alberta Federation of Labour. The tour, which consists of 13 concerts, will wrap up in the Crowsnest Pass during its Doors Open Festival on the August long weekend.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the AFL's Centennial celebrations," says Juno-nominated Maria Dunn. "It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of the labour movement in Alberta, to remind ourselves where we come from, and to ensure that we preserve these precious, hard-won rights - the right to collective bargaining, unemployment insurance, equal pay for women, public education, living wages, workers' health and safety standards and compensation, public health care, pensions, and so much more."
The Medicine Hat stop is also scheduled as part of the year-long Centennial Program at Medalta Potteries to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Medicine Hat Pottery Company in 1912. Ron Mason, education co-ordinator and head of interpretation at Medalta, also a local artist, will open with a few of songs he has written about work in the clay-works industry. (See the Medalta Centennial Program Guide at http://issuu.com/medalta/docs/medalta-2012-program-guide)
The concert Maria will present is Troublemakers: Working Albertans, 1900-1950, which documents the history of working people in Alberta's early days, depicting the resilience and hope which brought them through experiences of immigration, internment, exploitation and the Great Depression. She will sing of union organizers, feminists and radicals who led the earliest struggles, attracting the attention and punishment of the authorities. Appearing with Maria Dunn will be Shannon Johnson (fiddle) and Terry Morrison (guitar), both well-known artists in their own right.
This multimedia event will utilize video to introduce as well as situate songs in their historical context, with visual images of the people and the locations in which the stories occurred. In each case, Maria will add her own personal introduction before presenting the song, a combination which will make for an engaging and educational 60-minute presentation.
A Juno-nominated storyteller through song, Maria's lyrics are set to melodies inspired by Celtic and North American folk traditions. Many of the songs in Troublemakers appear in Maria's 2004 CD, We Were Good People, Producer: Shannon Johnson with the McDades, Craig Korth, Byron Myhre, Michael Jerome Browne and others.
This concert, as well as GWG: Piece-by-Piece, the other presentation for this tour, continues a tradition of labour music that has played an important part in the history of work and workers' organizations. Maria has entertained in hundreds of union and political gatherings, fundraisers and concerts across Alberta and Canada, as well as in other parts of the world. She writes her own material and has worked with Ground Zero Productions, Shannon Johnson and such writers as Catherine Cole to produce the concerts that will make up the 2012 Centennial Tour.
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For more information or for tickets, call:
Maria Dunn, 780-430-8560
Quentin Randall, Medalta Potteries at 403-529-1070
Dave Condon, President, Medicine Hat Labour Council, 403-504-8001 [email protected]
Or call: Winston Gereluk, AFL Office, 780-483-3021 [email protected]
Maria Dunn to Perform ‘Troublemakers’ in Olds College Theatre
Juno-nominated folksinger's tour celebrates 100 years of labour history
One of Alberta's best-known folk singers is coming to the Olds to present stories about the early years of Alberta labour through song.
Maria Dunn will lead a trio of performers into the Olds College Theatre on Monday evening, May 7, 2012 as part of a Province-wide tour to celebrate the Centennial of the Alberta Federation of Labour. The tour, which consists of 13 concerts, will wrap up in the Crowsnest Pass during its Doors Open Festival on the August long weekend.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the AFL's Centennial celebrations," says Juno-nominated Maria Dunn. "It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of the labour movement in Alberta, to remind ourselves about where we come from, and to ensure that we preserve these precious, hard-won rights - the right to collective bargaining, unemployment insurance, equal pay for women, public education, living wages, workers' health and safety standards and compensation, public health care, pensions, and so much more."
The Olds concert was organized in conjunction with the Alberta Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which will be kicking off its Annual Labour School at the College that week. As well, school participants will be encouraged to visit the Olds Library, which will be hosting a labour history display from May – June 30, 2012.
The concert Maria will present is Troublemakers: Working Albertans, 1900-1950, which documents the history of working people in Alberta's early days, depicting the resilience and hope which brought them through experiences of immigration, internment, exploitation and the Great Depression. She will sing of union organizers, feminists and radicals who led the earliest struggles, attracting the attention and punishment of the authorities. Appearing with Maria Dunn will be Shannon Johnson (fiddle) and Terry Morrison (guitar), both well-known artists in their own right.
This multimedia event will utilize video to introduce as well as situate songs in their historical context, with visual images of the people and the locations in which the stories occurred. In each case, Maria will add her own personal introduction before presenting the song, a combination which will make for an engaging and educational 60-minute presentation.
A Juno-nominated storyteller through song, Maria's lyrics are set to melodies inspired by Celtic and North American folk traditions. Many of the songs in Troublemakers appear in Maria's 2004 CD, We Were Good People, Producer: Shannon Johnson with the McDades, Craig Korth, Byron Myhre, Michael Jerome Browne and others.
This concert, as well as GWG: Piece-by-Piece, the other presentation for this tour, continues a tradition of labour music that has played an important part in the history of work and workers' organizations. Maria has entertained in hundreds of union and political gatherings, fundraisers and concerts across Alberta and Canada, as well as in other parts of the world. She writes her own material and has worked with Ground Zero Productions, Shannon Johnson and such writers as Catherine Cole to produce the concerts that will make up the 2012 Centennial Tour.
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For more information or for tickets call:
Maria Dunn, 780-430-8560
Ed Hanson, Education Officer, CUPE Alberta Division [email protected]
Jason Heistad, Vice-President, AUPE, Olds College 403-373-2532 [email protected]
Or call: Winston Gereluk, AFL Office at 780-483-3012 [email protected]
Maria Dunn to bring ‘Troublemakers’ concert to Southern Alberta
Juno-nominated folksinger's province-wide tour celebrates 100 years of labour history
One of Alberta's best-known folk singers will be touring southern Alberta in early May to present stories about the early years of Alberta labour through song.
"This tour is part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and I am thrilled to be a part of it," says Juno-nominated Maria Dunn.
"It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate, through songs, the efforts and accomplishments of the labour movement in Alberta, to remind ourselves about where we come from, and to ensure that we preserve these precious, hard-won rights — the right to collective bargaining, unemployment insurance, equal pay for women, public education, living wages, workers' health and safety standards and compensation, public health care, pensions, etc."
Dunn will lead a trio of performers into five centres in southern Alberta as she kicks off the province-wide tour. The tour, which consists of 13 concerts, will begin in Medicine Hat on the evening of May 3 and then be in Lethbridge on May 4, Calgary on May 5, Drumheller on May 6 and in Olds on May 7.
She will present Troublemakers: Working Albertans, 1900-1950, which documents the history of working people in Alberta's early days, depicting the resilience and hope which brought them through experiences of immigration, internment, exploitation and the Great Depression.
Dunn will sing of union organizers, feminists and radicals who led the earliest struggles, attracting the attention and punishment of the authorities. Appearing her will be Shannon Johnson (violin, vocal) and Terry Morrison (vocal, guitar), both well-known artists in their own right.
"When I began exploring our vibrant people's history for the songs ... I wanted to share with my fellow Albertans what I had learned about our long and fascinating history of labour organization, citizen action, the diversity of voices that shaped our province and their tireless efforts to gain the human rights and community benefits that we currently enjoy," says Dunn.
This multimedia event uses video to introduce and situate songs in their historical context, with images of the people and the locations in which the stories occurred. In each case, Dunn adds her own personal introduction before presenting the song, a combination which makes for an engaging and enjoyable 60-minute education on Alberta labour history.
In several centres, the AFL celebration is being coupled with a local event. The Medicine Hat stop for example, is scheduled as part of a year-long Program at Medalta Potteries to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Medicine Hat Pottery Company in 1912.
In Lethbridge, the birthplace of the AFL, Maria's concert will take place on the eve of a March of Unions and Picnic in the Park that is being organized by a local group.
In five concerts on the 13-date tour, Dunn will perform a different labour-themed show, called GWG: Piece-by-Piece. It is a 60-minute ballad depicting the experiences of immigrant women who worked in Edmonton's GWG clothing factory over its 93-year history. The plant, founded in 1911 and closed in 2004, was a microcosm of immigration patterns in Alberta's cities, and tells a story of the urban immigrant women who are seldom portrayed in history books. Appearing with Dunn will be Shannon Johnson and Sharmila Mathur on the sitar.
Dunn has performed at union and political gatherings, fundraisers and concerts across Alberta and Canada, as well as in other parts of the world. She writes her own material, and has worked with Ground Zero Productions, Shannon Johnson and such writers as Catherine Cole to produce the concerts that will make up the 2012 Centennial Tour. (See Dunn's website at www.mariadunn.com)
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Media contacts:
Winston Gereluk, 2012 Celebrations Co-ordinator, 780-668-8119 [email protected]
Maria Dunn, 780-430-8560
The Alberta Federation of Labour is 100 years old
It all began in 1912, when the 1911 convention of the United Mineworkers of America (UMWA) District 18 resolved to launch a provincial labour organization. They invited Alberta's trade unions and the recently formed United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) to send delegates to a founding convention of the Alberta Federation of Labour in Lethbridge on July 14 and 15, 1912.
According to the story in the Lethbridge Herald, the 34 delegates at that convention resolved to support each other, because they knew that they could rely on nobody else. District 18 Vice-President John O. Jones of Hillcrest became the president of the new organization. Sadly, efforts at farm-labour unity collapsed under the weight of the contradictory objectives of the two parties, and the farmers did not follow through. However, the unity they forged at the convention helped the UFA to win the 1921 provincial election, after which it passed some of the most progressive labour legislation in Alberta's history.
From the beginning, the AFL was divided between 'moderate' and 'radical' unionists. Moderates tended to come from the skilled craft unions affiliated to the American Federation of Labor and Canada's Trades & Labour Congress (TLC), whereas the radicals tended to come from ranks of the unskilled and semi-skilled.
Though a major force in the early days, miners were not always in the AFL. When they formed the One Big Union (OBU) in 1919 in Calgary, 95 per cent voted to leave the UMWA, and remained outside until 1923, only to be taken out again by the new communist-led Mine Workers Union of Canada (MWUC) in 1925. They rejoined in 1935, only to be expelled in 1939, on orders from the U.S.
Largely shunned by the mainstream of the conservative AFL, miners joined with the United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA) and the Civil Service Association of Alberta (CSA) to establish the Industrial Federation of Labour (IFL) in 1949 - just as McCarthyism was taking hold.
The IFL gained an ally when Neil Reimer came to Alberta in 1951 to organize with the Oil Workers' International Union (later the Oil Chemical & Atomic Workers; then the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers' Union). By 1955, the IFL claimed over 8,000 members including workers in mines, steel plants, packinghouses, energy and on the railway.
From the beginning, labour centrals have brought union leaders and activists together to debate policies and take collective action, transforming groups of workers seeking specific gains into a labour movement capable of fighting for the welfare of all. Gains in the early years included Workmen's Compensation; construction safety; a prohibition on child labour, a tenant's franchise, a fair wage policy, abolition of property qualifications for civic office, etc.
Through all these years, the industrialbased Canadian Congress of Labour and the IFL remained faithful supporters of the socialist Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), while the TLC and its provincial body the AFL remained nonpartisan, reluctant to denounce Social Credit policies, even when these restricted members' right to organize and strike.
Unity came in 1956, when the Trades and Labour Congress and the Canadian Congress of Labour merged to become the Canadian Labour Congress. The AFL and IFL followed suit, and craft unionist Charlie Gilbert was elected first president of the new body.
By 1957, the new Federation had grown to about 34,000 members, and had begun to challenge the Social Credit regime. When it moved to formalize its relationship with the CCF in 1959, the CSA withdrew its affiliation, and after the 1959 election, a victorious Social Credit government punished the AFL by passing negative changes to Alberta's Labour Act.
The 1960s saw a rise in the fortunes of organized labour with growing political influence of the New Democratic Party and unionization of the public sector. A bitter strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) in 1965 led to the passage of the Public Service Staff Relations Act (PSSRA), opening the door to collective bargaining for all government workers. In 1963, a council of municipal unions became part of a new national union, unifying municipal, school board and hospital employees into the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
Edmonton Journal, Friday August 30 2012