UNIONS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER

EDMONTON, AB--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Attacks on working people over the last year show us that Albertans need strong unions now more than ever,” says CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal.

“The annual celebration of Labour Day across Alberta gives us the opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the working folks who make our province run.

“A one-day strike at WestJet last month was enough to show what united workers can achieve. Corporations continue to unfairly rake in record profits on the backs of workers. This is not only unfair; it’s ultimately bad for the economy of Canada. Because when folks are working harder for less, the result is a slowdown in our economy.”

Uppal referenced a recent report by Jim Stanford, a celebrated Canadian economist, which shows that while corporate profits have soared in Alberta since the UCP has taken power, the purchasing power of the average worker has stagnated. The so-called Alberta Advantage has completely disappeared.

“And Danielle Smith and her UCP Government are paving the way to make our situation worse by raising the prospect of separation. By remaining uncommitted to fully embracing Canada, she is creating an environment of uncertainty that has already impacted Albertans and working people are already suffering.

“And then she includes nine other questions that are racist and/or unconstitutional. CUPE Alberta is advocating to its members to choose to remain in Canada and to vote NO to the other nine questions.”

Uppal points to unions leading the defence against the worst of Premier Smith’s ideological initiatives. “Whether it is standing up against the UCP’s attempts to illegally introduce American-styled two-tier health care to Alberta, to further privatize our public school system or to infringe on the rights of our children through draconian regulations over what they read and how they present themselves, it’s unions that are leading the way.

“This is no time to back down,” she concluded. “The UCP need to know that the fight is just beginning. And we will never let them win.”

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