“This episode highlights the important role unions play in acting as watchdogs to defend the interests of workers,” says AFL

EDMONTON – A week after the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 424, blew the whistle on a UCP plan to host an overseas recruitment drive for Temporary Foreign Workers to fill Alberta construction jobs, the Smith government has backed down.

The announcement was made quietly on Sunday night, obviously in hopes that the climb down would attract as little attention as possible.

AFL president Gil McGowan made the following statement after hearing the news:

“This episode highlights the important role that unions play as watchdogs to defend the interests of working Albertans. There is no doubt in my mind that the UCP would have proceeded with this recruitment trip if we hadn’t raised the alarm. The reality is that there are still many employers, especially in the construction sector and low-wage service sector, who continue to view the TFW program as a first choice for recruiting workers, rather than a last resort. It’s also clear to us that the UCP spends more time thinking about the interests and preferences of those employers than thinking about the negative impacts that the use of TFWs has on wages and jobs for ordinary working Albertans. That’s why we will congratulate the UCP for cancelling the recruitment trip – but continue to keep a close eye on them going forward.”

For context on this story, here is a link to the AFL’s news release on the issue. And here are links to stories on the controversial recruitment trip prepared by CTV, CBC, the Calgary Herald and even the Western Standard.

-30-

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ian Hussey
Director of Energy Policy, AFL
Email: ihussey@afl.org