The leadership of the Alberta Federation of Labour is elected every two years by delegates at the AFL Constitutional Convention.
Gil McGowan
President
In April 2025, Gil McGowan was re-elected to his eleventh two-year term as president of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), Alberta’s largest union advocacy organization that represents more than 170,000 workers in both the public and private sectors. McGowan, a father of three, has presided over a period of substantial growth for the AFL. He has been instrumental in putting many important issues forward for public discussion in Alberta. He has held public discussions that led to policy changes on resource development, reform of the temporary foreign worker program, new energy jobs at union wages, a $15 minimum wage, pension reform, sustainable jobs in new energy industries, reforms to the labour code, and reforms to occupational health and safety as well as WCB legislation.
Gil has been instrumental in coordinating the AFL’s political action campaigns, including the campaign that helped elect Alberta’s first NDP government in May 2015. That same year, Gil was named one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people. In 2022, he received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for “significant contribution to the province.” recommendation about how to add more value to Alberta’s energy resources. Gil also serves as Sponsor Board Chair Person for the Local Authorities Pension Plan.
Cori Longo
Secretary Treasurer
Cori Longo was re-elected in April 2025 to the position of Secretary Treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labour. Cori has been a union member in Alberta for 21 years. As a teenager she got her first unionized job and it changed her life. Cori was a member of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for 10 years. She played a big role in CUPW Local 730 from shop steward, organizing committee member to being on the local executive board. While working part time, Cori completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree and became a Registered Nurse, and a member of United Nurses of Alberta Local 79. The same year she became an RN, Cori followed her heart and started working full time in the labour movement. Cori became the Regional Representative for the Canadian Labour Congress. In this role, Cori is a member of IAMAW Local 3111. Cori has two kids who are the inspiration for everything she does.