There has never been a more urgent moment for workers to stand together and defend the rights, jobs and public services that generations of union members fought to build. The Alberta government’s planned referendum questions are designed to divide working people, distract from the real challenges facing families and undermine the solidarity that workers across Canada depend on.
These referendum efforts are a dangerous political exercise that threatens national unity, weakens workers’ collective power and puts good jobs and public services at risk. At a time when workers are facing economic uncertainty, affordability pressures and attacks on labour rights, politicians should be focused on strengthening our economy and supporting working families and not creating division and instability.
We know that workers are stronger when we stand united and we cannot allow political agendas to pit workers against one another or weaken the labour movement’s ability to fight for fairness, dignity and good jobs.
This fall’s referendums and the next provincial election will be pivotal moments for Alberta workers. In response, USW, together with Unifor and CUPE Alberta, has launched joint Labour Votes schools to engage, educate and mobilize our members against Premier Danielle Smith’s dangerous referendum. These schools will prepare activists to have meaningful member-to-member conversations and participate in door knocking and outreach activities focused on defending workers’ rights and protecting our future.
Training details and logistics are still being finalized; however, the following dates have been tentatively set, and local unions are requested to recruit members to attend schools in their area and submit their names to District 3:
- July 21-23 – Edmonton
- Aug. 18-20 – Calgary
- Sept. 21-22 – Lethbridge
- Oct. 8-9 – Virtual
- Oct. 14-16 – Calgary
Interested in attending? Talk to your local president and then fill in the form to submit your name.
We have some special conditions for this union leave:
- During this book-off period, all participates will attend all aspects of the training, including evening volunteering and member engagement.
- All regularly scheduled lost time wages will be reimbursed to the local union by the USW District 3. Per diems and expenses will also be reimbursed to the local union in accordance with the union’s expense policy.
- Please ensure your local union submits lost-time and expenses claims to the USW District 3 office. These forms may be emailed to d3expenses@usw.ca. All participants will be required to fill out a Casual Employment Form (CEF) ahead of the training.
Thank you in advance for your local’s participation in this important effort!
In solidarity,
Scott Lunny