2003 August Speech International Forum on Privatization of Public Services

Les Steel, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour, August 2003 (Oslo, Norway) Good morning and thank you for the warm welcome. As you’ve already heard, my name is Les […]

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When it comes to ethics, business can learn from unions

It’s not often that Business Week magazine praises unions – still less often that it recommends unions as a model for business. That’s just what happened, however, in that magazine’s […]

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Don’t be fooled by Tory spin on Bill 27

You have to hand it to the Klein Tories – they sure know how to spin a tall tale. Take the case of Bill 27, for example, their controversial new […]

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2003 April Speech Alberta CUPE Convention

Les Steel, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour, April 2003 As trade unionists we are currently living through a period that can best be described as schizophrenic. It’s a […]

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New regulations set the stage for attack on health care workers rights, contracts

EDMONTON – The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) is responding angrily to regulations released yesterday that flesh-out the provincial government’s controversial new labour law, Bill 27. The regulations “trample on […]

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Dark day for labour relations in Alberta

EDMONTON – By ramming Bill 27 through the Legislature, the Alberta government has abandoned all pretence that it is an impartial third party when it comes to labour relations in […]

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Health workers set to rally against Bill 27

EDMONTON – Health care workers from seven different unions will rally at the Legislature over the lunch hour tomorrow to protest Bill 27, the government’s controversial amendment to the Alberta […]

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Unions launch NAFTA challenge of proposed labour law

EDMONTON – The Alberta Federation of Labour and seven unions representing health care workers in the province have decided to launch a formal challenge to Bill 27, a bill to […]

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Union leaders meet to plan response to strike-ban legislation

EDMONTON – The leaders of unions representing health care workers in Alberta will meet tomorrow morning to discuss a new piece of provincial legislation that will strip the right-to-strike from […]

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New session of Legislature will bring more bad news for working people

EDMONTON – Despite a booming economy and an expected multi-billion-dollar budget surplus, the Alberta government will not likely use the upcoming session of the Legislature to make life any easier […]

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2003 February Speech TWU Convention

Les Steel, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour, February 2003 We need to change – to take advantage of new opportunities and meet new challenges As trade unionists we […]

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Rally at the Shaw is still a go – unless a last-minute deal can be reached

EDMONTON – A large demonstration will still be held outside the CFL Dinner Friday night unless a last-minute deal can be reached to end the seven-month-old strike at the Shaw […]

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EDE squanders chance to keep Grey Cup free of disruptions

EDMONTON – Hopes of a Grey Cup weekend free from disruptions and labour unrest are “disappearing fast” as a result of yet more examples of bad faith bargaining by management […]

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Shaw strike is costing Edmonton millions in lost convention business

EDMONTON – The labour dispute at the Shaw Conference Centre has already resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in convention business – and if it drags […]

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Labour Relations Board Out of Line in AUPE Ruling

The Alberta Labour Relations Board is jeopardizing its fundamental need to be seen to be neutral on labour relations conflicts by its continued insistence upon assessing punitive damages against the […]

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BBQ and Rally in support of striking workers at the Shaw Conference Centre

EDMONTON – A barbeque and rally is planned for tomorrow, August 27th, 2002 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. respectively at Sir Winston Churchill Square in front of City Hall. […]

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Dunford Refuses to Meet Striking Workers

Human Resources Minister Clint Dunford is picking sides in the labour dispute at the Shaw Conference Centre by refusing to meet with striking workers to discuss possible ways to end […]

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Labour Code Review Could Be a Trojan Horse for Union Busters

The Alberta Federation of Labour responded to the establishment of a Tory MLA committee to decide if the Labour Relations Code should be revamped by questioning the real motivations of […]

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Fiscal Management Commission Report Means $2 Billion in Cutbacks, says AFL

The Alberta Federation of Labour responded to the release of “Moving From Good to Great”, the final report of the Financial Management Commission, by pointing out it is just more […]

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AFL calls for boycott on Shaw Conference Centre

EDMONTON – In an effort to show support for striking workers at the Shaw Conference Centre, the Alberta Federation of Labour is urging unions and union members to boycott the […]

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“Would You Call Two Deaths a Week An Epidemic?”

Marking the 7th International Day of Mourning, the Alberta Federation of Labour is asking why workplace deaths are given much lower priority than other causes of death. The AFL suggests […]

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Day of Mourning Ceremony to Honour All Workers Killed at Work

Day of Mourning CeremonySunday April 282:00 pm to 3:00 pmEdmonton City Hall (City Room) The Alberta Federation of Labour and the Edmonton and District Labour Council are co-sponsoring a ceremony […]

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Court ruling highlights important role strikes can play in resolving disputes

EDMONTON – The decision by the Alberta Court of Appeal to over-turn a government back-to-work order involving thousands of striking teachers is a victory for teachers on several levels, says […]

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New Legislature session will feature renewed attacks on basic workers rights

EDMONTON – Despite government reassurances and claims to the contrary, the new session of the Legislature is shaping up as an historic showdown on issues such as public health care […]

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