The Alberta Federation of Labour is slamming the federal government for shortchanging Albertans when it comes to EI benefits.

Gil McGowan says Albertans have to work more hours to qualify compared to workers in other provinces.

Workers in Calgary and Edmonton must work 665 hours before becoming eligible for EI benefits compared to 560 hours in Montreal and Toronto and 420 for Newfoundland.

A new analysis from the AFL says our province has the lowest percentage of jobless workers receiving EI with just 39 percent of workers here getting benefits, compared to over 50 percent in Quebec.

660AM, Tues Sept 8 2009