Edmonton – Statement from Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan on the State Legislature of Wisconsin fast-tracking right-to-work legislation:

“The Alberta Federation of Labour stands proudly with workers in Wisconsin against Governor Scott Walker’s attack on working families.

“This week the labour movement in Wisconsin is making every effort to stop the Governor’s mean-spirited and unnecessary labour law, which is being fast tracked through their state legislature right now.

“Right-to-work legislation is an effort to lower wages, undercut the rights of workers, and further fracture the power of the labour movement in the state.

“We know that the fight in Wisconsin today may be a fight coming to workers across North America tomorrow. Workers and the labour movement are showing us how important it is to come together to fight a great threat that will fundamentally hurt working people.

“Now more than ever we need to find our collective voice—in Wisconsin, across America, and right here in Alberta. Without ongoing solidarity and mobilization of our collective power, workers will pay the price.

“Today, Wisconsin is a wake-up call, and we at the Alberta Federation of Labour are ready to meet the challenge whenever it may come.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Olav Rokne, Communications Director, Alberta Federation of Labour at 780.218.4351 (cell)
or via e-mail orokne@afl.org