ALF V1

Alberta moves to the back of the pack (again) when it comes to workplace rights and protections

Workers should feel safe coming forward about wrongdoing — regardless of who their employer is

The province can’t delay working alone legislation

Killings of two convenience store workers prompts call for action on late night workplace safety

“The inclusion of agricultural workers in Alberta’s workplace laws is a victory for all workers”

Government given one year to fix labour legislation that violates constitution

Edmonton –Alberta laws that interfere with the right of public-sector workers to go on strike violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Court of Queen’s Bench has ruled.

In a sweeping judgment handed down on Tuesday, and accepted by the Government of Alberta today, Justice Dennis Thomas ruled the blanket prohibitions against strikes and lockouts in Section 96(1)(b) and 96(1)(c) of the Labour Relations Code, and sections of the Public Service Employees Relations Act (PSERA) violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and are not saved by the Charter’s provision allowing reasonable limits as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

“Albertans have a right to work together, to look after each other and to stand up for themselves when needed,” Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said. “Attacking those rights doesn’t lead to labour peace – it leads to long-term problems. I am very pleased that Justice Thomas in his wisdom has reaffirmed those rights.”

This is the latest in a series of court decisions in Canada that have reaffirmed the fact that the right to free association includes the right to bargain collectively, and to engage in collective work action. In his decision, Justice Thomas cited the Supreme Court of Canada’s Jan. 30 decision in Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v. Saskatchewan, which saw the country’s top court strike down a Saskatchewan law that prevented public-sector employees from striking.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Olav Rokne, Communications Director, Alberta Federation of Labour at 780.218.4351 (cell)
or via e-mail [email protected]

Reckless PC spending cuts will make oil downturn worse for Albertans

Edmonton – The nine per cent budget cuts proposed by finance minister Robin Campbell and Premier Jim Prentice will plunge Alberta into a downward economic spiral, harm Albertans who rely on public services, and further threaten to push Alberta toward recession.

On Wednesday, February 11, the finance minister joined Premier Jim Prentice in a press conference updating Albertans on their plan to tackle government deficits caused by low oil prices and an irresponsible tax system. In the conference, the premier cited the languishing price of oil as a pretext for austerity measures and spending cuts.

“Jim Prentice has an opportunity here to show some leadership and political courage. Today’s press conference is an indication that he isn’t going to take that opportunity. This is terrible news for all Albertans,” Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said. “The premier knows that we’re facing a possible recessionary period – and every credible economist will tell you that slashing spending at this time will only deepen that recession.”

Despite the Premier saying he has heard that Albertans want a measured and reasoned response to the current fiscal reality, the PC government announced up to a nine per cent cut in government spending across the board. This will mean billions of dollars less each year for the front-line services on which Albertans rely, without addressing the underlying problem that the province’s budgets are too dependent on fluctuating resource revenues.

“When you cut spending this drastically, you put people out of work. When you put more people out of work, they stop spending. And when that many people stop spending, the economy grinds to a halt,” McGowan said. “Unless Premier Prentice can step up and provide leadership on royalties and taxes, Alberta could be heading for some very dark times.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Olav Rokne, Communications Director, Alberta Federation of Labour at 780.218.4351 (cell)
or via e-mail [email protected]

AFL to help inform voters about differences between candidates stance on controversial guest-worker program

FORT MCURRAY–Fort McMurray-Athabasca voters will examine the Temporary Foreign Worker program at a forum on Monday, June 16.

At an event organized by the Alberta Federation of Labour, residents of Fort McMurray-Athabasca are invited to share their experiences with how the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has affected the economy and the job market in the region. AFL president Gil McGowan will discuss the TFWP as an election issue. All candidates in the upcoming by-election have been invited to attend and are encouraged to come share their thoughts on the controversial program and Fort McMurray-Athabasca's labour challenges.

"The oil sands are ground zero for the use and abuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker program," Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said. "It's here that workers, their families, and the community are seeing the biggest impact. It's workers here who have been let go to make room for lower-paid guest workers, and it's here that safety standards are being undermined. So voters here should know what the people who want to represent them in Ottawa plan to do about this program."

The event will be held at the Fort McMurray Legion (9317 Huggard Street) at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16. The event will be an opportunity for voters to learn more about the problems with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and to ask questions about what can be done.

"The resignation of the sitting MP has given voters here a unique opportunity to send a message to Ottawa that this program needs to be shut down," McGowan said. "By holding this forum, we're trying to educate voters about what can be done on this issue. This by-election can be a referendum on the Temporary Foreign Worker program."

Over the past decade, the Temporary Foreign Worker program has ballooned, going from fewer than 200,000 when the Conservatives took power in 2006, to more than 350,000 today. Most of the growth of the program has been in the oil sector and in low-wage jobs. Alberta has the highest per-capita use of the Temporary Foreign Worker program, with more than 85,000 working in the province.

“Fort McMurray is the beating heart of Alberta’s economy, so what happens here affects the entire province — and the entire country,” McGowan said. “If the workers here send a clear message that this program is not in the best interests of Fort McMurray-Athabasca, then the power brokers in Ottawa will have to admit the program is not in the best interests of Canada.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Olav Rokne, Communications Director, Alberta Federation of Labour at 780.218.4351 (cell)
or via e-mail [email protected]

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G:\Communications\NEWS\AFL\2014\2014-22_Election Forum Puts Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Spotlight_2014June16.docx

2014 Pension Fact Sheet

Labour leaders are giving rare praise to the Alberta government for a revamped website that allows people to find out which employers have the highest number of workplace deaths and injuries

The government has put the information online since 2010 but critics said that the website was hard to search. The new version launched at the end of April changes that.

"Workers deserve to know which employers are taking health and safety seriously and which are not," said Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan, who calls the site a good first step.

Alberta Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour Minister Kyle Fawcett says searching under the old format was time-consuming.

"People would have been very unlikely to put in that time and effort," he said. "Now it's real easy and we think it's in a much more usable format."

However, Fawcett cautioned against taking the list at face value.

"It doesn't necessarily mean that it's an employer with a poor safety record. It is a real assessment of what injury rates, disabling rates occurred that year."

In terms of significant on-the-job injuries, Weisse Johnson was one of top 10 offenders in 2012 – something the company's co-owner feels is misleading.

"Almost all of our injuries are related to cuts and the odd twisted ankle carrying product in and out of houses," said Dennis Johnson.

However, he said the company has never had a serious injury.

"It's a little disheartening because people might get in their minds that we're a bad company to work for and that we don't work for their safety," he said. "Safety is one of our core values here at Weiss Johnson.

While McGowan is pleased the information is out there, he hopes the government uses it  to inspect and investigate employers with the highest rates of death and injury.

"The real test is whether or not the government will use this information to actually force employers to clean up their acts when it comes to workplace health and safety."

The site covers the period from 2008 to 2012, the most recent information available. Fawcett says the government is looking at updating the site.

CBC, 2014 June 11