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Unions Speak Out Against Bill 32 Alberta Federation of Labour
The AFL had already launched a Defend Worker Rights Campaign to mobilize workers to speak out against Bill 32. Since the legislation was introduced the AFL has been providing information on its website to explain its features. In its most recent post on July 24, the six major attacks on workers' rights contained in the legislation are elaborated: - the averaging of overtime over 52 weeks so as
to virtually eliminate overtime pay; The article quotes AFL President Gil McGowan: "Imagine if a left-leaning government introduced a law giving themselves power over the internal affairs of the Chamber of Commerce or the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. There would be a justifiable outcry and legitimate claims of government overreach. But somehow this is deemed acceptable if the targets are workers and labour unions. The UCP's double standard speaks volumes about what they're really trying to accomplish with Bill 32. This isn't about freedom or choice. And it's certainly not about restoring balance. As constitutional lawyer Colin Feasby wrote in a recent analysis of Bill 32 for the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law blog, Bill 32 is a 'paradigmatic example' of legislative power being used to ‘silence or impair the efficacy of political opponents.' In other words, it's about shutting up people the government doesn't agree with." In the AFL's July 7 statement launching its opposition to Bill 32, McGowan stated: "What this bill is really about is tipping the scales of power in favour of the UCP, their corporate friends and their wealthy donors -- at the expense of everyone else.
"And it's about weakening the bargaining power of workers, both in the workplace and on the political stage." [...] "The UCP's new labour law will weaken the bargaining power of Alberta workers, by dropping the floor of rights for non-union workers and by tying the hands of unionized workers. And, in the process, it will set off a race-to-the-bottom, in terms of wages and workplace rights."[...] "Why is Premier Kenney so intent on attacking workers and unions? It's because he knows we will fight him and his destructive, ideological agenda. Alberta unions have been leading the fight against the UCP's cuts to education and health care. "We've been advocating for safer workplaces and more secure pensions. We've been calling for public Pharmacare, affordable child care and a plan to deal with the global move away from fossil fuels. We've also been arguing that going back to 'normal' after COVID-19 is not good enough. We know that, as a province, we can and should do better."
This article was published in Article Link:   Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca |
In
a press conference on July 29, hours after the
passage of Bill 32 by
the Alberta legislature, the Alberta Federation
of Labour (AFL)
announced that 26 unions plus the AFL will be
launching a Charter
Challenge to the constitutionality of Bill
32. AFL President Gil
McGowan denounced Bill 32’s attacks on
workers and unions
and pledged an all out mobilization against
it. 
"It's
about shutting down the ability of ordinary
working Albertans to pool
their money and advocate on issues that matter
to them.