EDMONTON –The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) will be holding its fourth annual workshop dealing with violence against women on December 6, 1999 – the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

“Each year the Alberta Federation of Labour strives to bring the terrible social consequences of violence against women to the forefront of Albertans’ minds,” says AFL President Audrey Cormack. “Only by continuing our efforts to end violence against women can we truly commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action.”

This year, the AFL is sponsoring a workshop that examines the workplace consequences of domestic violence. Delegates to the workshop will be presented with a panel discussion on various aspects of domestic violence. Panelists will include Sylvia Hawkins, Vice-President of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC); Heather Richards, Director of the Strathcona Shelter Society; and Glenda Malina, Staff Sergeant with the Edmonton Police Service.

“Our delegates will learn about different types and cycles of violence,” says Cormack, “They will examine the legal ramifications of domestic violence, and they will learn how to identify and assist co-workers who are experiencing abuse at home.”

The delegates will also participate in the unveiling of the new Edmonton Women’s Monument at 12:00 noon on December 6, 1999. The monument, entitled A Vision of Hope, is located in Mary Burlie Park, 97 Street & 104 Avenue in Edmonton.

“I’m very proud of the role labour has played in making this monument a reality,” says Cormack. “The Alberta Federation of Labour and its Womens’ Committee, the Canadian Auto Workers Union, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union, the Edmonton & District Labour Council and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union all contributed to the monument.”

But, Cormack warned that we still have a very long way to go as a society. “When you consider that 51% of women over the age of sixteen in Canada have experienced at least one incident of violence as defined in the Criminal Code, it is evident that we in labour and all Canadians must continue to educate and agitate and organize to put an end to domestic violence,” she concluded. “We need to be active – not just on December 6th, but on every single day of the year.”

For more information call:

Audrey Cormack, President @ 499-6530(cell)/483-3021(wk)/428-9367(hm)