CUPE Alberta Newsletter: Week in Review and Look Ahead – Issue 13

SENT ON BEHALF OF RAJ UPPAL, CUPE ALBERTA PRESIDENT AND LYNDSEY HENDERSON, CUPE POLITICAL ACTION COORDINATOR:

Hello Everyone,

We’re pleased to say it’s been a slightly quieter week on the Legislation front.  The Legislature was on break for a constituency week, so no new legislation has been tabled. The session will resume on Monday April 13th.  We continue to see strong responses from unions and sectoral organizations condemning many of the bills tabled last week, and it’s essential we continue to push back against the massive overreach and interference we’re seeing into school boards, the control and oversight of municipalities and municipal elected officials, libraries, and more.

Another reminder that committee applications are due by the end of day today, April 10^th, for 10 standing committees – you can find details about the committees here (please note: two new committees this year have been struck – the young workers committee and the disability committee).  Any interested members should contact their local president and complete the application form available here. Please ensure these are completed and submitted before the end of day on April 10th to the contact listed at the bottom of the form.

We have launched the next wave of our Don’t Touch CPP campaign, and you can find the newly released video at DontTouchCPP.ca.  Please share the campaign with your members and ask them to sign on to send a message to Premier Smith and their local MLA to keep their hands off our pensions!

We want to thank those of you who had members participating in this week’s Member Mobilization and Campaign Training in Calgary.  We can proudly say that members were educated on pressing issues around the referendum, healthcare privatization, CPP, engaging in member to member and electoral campaigns and knocked on just shy of 1200 doors in battleground Calgary! This was our first joint school with the United Steelworkers and Unifor, and we will work hard to plan and schedule more training opportunities for members going forward.

CUPE Campaigns, Calls to Action and Events:

• The United Nurses of Alberta are asking folks to post pictures of cake to celebrate the “birthday” of the Canada Health Act (CHA), which came into effect on April 17^th,1984, and to urge politicians to ensure that the CHA is being enforced and protecting public healthcare for all.  A poster with more details is attached to this email.
• Alberta Municipalities will be hosting a webinar to gather information and share their draft report in response to Bill 28, and its impacts.  The webinar is on April 14^th at 12:00 PM, and you can Register Here.

• CUPE Alberta has launched a census survey to learn more about the demographics and experiences of its members, so that we can better serve our membership and help locals thrive.  Your responses will help us identify areas of strength within our membership and areas for improvement.  Please circulate this to all members interested in completing the survey.
• CUPE Save our Schools!

• • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Fulham School in Grande Yellowhead School District
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Delnorte School in Buffalo Trail School District
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Walter Niblock and Southview School in Medicine Hat
• Corb Lund’s Water Not Coal petition is undertaking a province-wide tour with signing opportunities to fight back against coal mining in the Rocky Mountains.
• State of Emergency Health Care Crisis Stories  – over 8000 stories have been shared through our State of Emergency Campaign – read them now and sign on!
• Don’t Touch CPP –   Check out the newly released video standing up for our pensions and tell Danielle Smith and the Alberta Government that Albertans have made themselves clear, we want to stay in the CPP!
• The City of Edmonton is asking for engagement to help shape budgets 2027-30.  You can engage online or in a variety of in-person meetings.  We can be a strong voice to prevent contracting out and privatization of our services.
• The Parkland Institute is hosting the “Notwithstanding Clause”: Can Governments Escape Their Duty to Bargain With Unions?  Parkland Director Jason Foster will examine what this constitutional workaround means for collective bargaining rights — and what workers and their unions can do in response. On Wednesday, April 22^nd 1:30 PM MDT. Register Here
• Friends of Medicare – Stolen Time Film Screening Fort McMurray – Saturday April 11^th 7:00 PM.
• Friends of Medicare – Stolen Time Film Screening Medicine Hat – Saturday April 18^th 7:00 PM
• Alberta Federation of Labour Mid-Term Forum – April 24^th – 25^th – Chateau Lacombe, Edmonton.
• Alberta Federation of Labour Civil Society Summit – April 26^t – Chateau Lacombe, Edmonton
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Gala May 7^th 5:00 PM – Chateau Louise Hotel and Conference Centre, Edmonton.
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Conference “Common Purpose, Collective Action” – May 8^th– 9^th – Barnett House Edmonton.
• CUPE Health and Safety Conference – May 24^th– 25^th Edmonton – Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre.
• The CUPE Events Van is now ready for events! The van is equipped to support your outreach and engagement activities, including community events, rallies, BBQ’s and member gatherings. Locals and CUPE District Councils can request use of the van along with equipment such as a speaker, microphone, megaphone, BBQ, popcorn machine, and button maker. To request the van to support your event, please fill out the application form here. To apply to become an approved driver, please complete the form here.  Any questions about the events van can be directed to admin@cupeab.org

Week in Review

• CUPE Local 70 sounds the alarm over Bill 28 and the government expanding control over our libraries.  “This is not what library staff are meant to be doing.  We are trained professionals, and we have been handling questions about age-appropriate materials for decades without issues.” – Dax Law CUPE Local 70 member and Unit Director for library workers.
• The Public School Boards Association of Alberta has raised a series of serios concerns with Bill 25 and the impact it will have on the work and autonomy of democratically elected school trustees and divisions.  They have raised that it will curtail boards roles as community advocates, ensuring their schools are welcoming and supportive spaces, set strategic priorities that are reflective of their community and exert autonomy in hiring superintendents.
• First Nations from across Alberta held a rally in Churchill Square to oppose an attempt to force a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada.
• Alberta Government will not be conducting an environmental impact assessment for Kevin O’Leary’s proposed data centre park outside of Grande Prairie.
• Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu has crossed the floor to the Liberals.  This coupled with at least two anticipated by-election wins on Monday means that Mark Carney’s Liberals will gain a majority of seats in the house of commons.  There are further rooms that an additional 9 Conservative MPs may be considering crossing the floor to join the Liberals.
• The NDP Opposition have launched a “For Alberta, For Canada” campaign, pushing back against separatism and calling for a united Canada.
• A recent Angus Reid poll was released, which noted that 67% of respondents felt the Government was doing a poor job on healthcare, 66% believe they are doing a poor job on addressing the cost of living, and 52% believe we are on the wrong path as a Province.
• After a stabbing in the Emergency department of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, multiple unions are calling for increases to safety and security measures for staff and patients.  They note that members are facing increased threats of violence and harassment in the workplace.
• Legal arguments have concluded for the court challenge brought forward by the Sturgeon Lake, Athabasca Chipewyan and Blackfoot Confederacy First Nations.  The nations brought forward the challenge against the Alberta separatist petition and potential referendum.
• The Globe and Mail has written an expose showing that Justice Minister Mickey Amery shortened the amount of time Elections Alberta has to penalize finance violations while his friend and relative, Sam Mraice (who is at the heart of the AHS Corrupt Care scandal) was under investigation by the regulator.
• The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAPL), representing all 324 public library service points in Alberta, raised serious concerns about Bill 28.
• Taber has won the annual Kraft Hockeyville award and a $250k grant!  Thank you to those of you who voted and supported our amazing arena workers!

In Solidarity,

RAJ and LYNDSEY