News – Local 222

Investing in Apprenticeship, Building Canada’s Future

Canada’s Building Trades Unions welcome today’s announcement from Secretary of State for Labour, John Zerucelli, and Employment and Social Development Canada regarding changes to the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Investments in Training Equipment (CAS ITE). By expanding flexibilities to cover shipping and installation costs and federal contributions of up to 70% for projects in remote or infrastructure‑limited areas, it will make be more accessible and more affordable for unions and training providers to acquire the modern equipment and materials our apprentices

February 6, 2026

ISSUE BRIEF: Alberta Separation is Bad for Workers and the Economy

This is the first Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) Issue Brief for 2026, prepared by Ian Hussey, AFL director for research and political action. Overview Alberta separatists are collecting signatures until May 2, 2026, as part of their campaign to convince the United Conservative Party (UCP) provincial government to call a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada to become an independent… Source

February 4, 2026

PRESS RELEASE: “The mid-January tragic death in the oilsands demonstrates need for police investigations into ALL workplace fatalities” — AFL

EDMONTON – The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) is calling on the Alberta government to coordinate with police to investigate a recent workplace fatality in the province and to commit to doing the same for all such incidents in the future. On January 13, a contractor at a Suncor oilsands site died after the machinery they were operating sank into muskeg. “This is a horrible tragedy… Source

January 29, 2026

PRESS RELEASE: UCP’s ongoing health care fiasco shows strengthened whistleblower protection is overdue

EDMONTON – The president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, Gil McGowan, is expressing strong support for the Alberta NDP’s private member’s bill, Public Interest Disclosure (Publicly Funded Health Entity Whistleblower Protection) Act (Bill 204). The bill aims to provide a framework to protect whistleblowers who flag wrongdoing or misuse of funds. The bill would strengthen transparency and… Source

January 27, 2026

STATEMENT: AFL & Newest Member Union, Mount Royal Faculty Association, Stand United to Fight for the Rights of Workers

CALGARY – The following joint statement was released by the Mount Royal Faculty Association (MRFA) and the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) following yesterday’s gathering at Calgary Public Library – Central, to discuss a coordinated response Bill 2: Back to School Act, passed by the Alberta Legislature on October 27, 2025: “It’s no secret that organized labour in Alberta is up against a… Source

January 23, 2026

Building Alberta: Passenger Rail, Good Jobs, and Economic MomentumCanada’s Building Trades Unions, Building Trades of Alberta and Friends of CABR Sign MOU to Advance Calgary–Banff Passenger Rail

Calgary, Alberta – Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), Building Trades of Alberta (BTA), and Friends of Calgary Airport–Banff Rail (CABR) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize collaboration in support of building the Calgary Airport–Downtown–Bow Valley–Banff passenger rail system. The agreement signals a shared commitment to move from years of study to construction on one of Canada’s most shovel-ready passenger rail projects, creating good-paying union jobs, strengthening Alberta’s economy, and building confidence in Canada’s ability to deliver major

January 20, 2026

PRESS RELEASE: NAIT Academic Staff Vote Overwhelmingly in Favour of Strike Mandate

The following news release was distributed on behalf of the NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA): EDMONTON – Members of the NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, sending a clear and unified message to the employer that meaningful progress must be made at the bargaining table. The vote results are unofficial pending verification by the… Source

January 15, 2026

Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ Unanimously Pass Resolution to Harmonize National Safety Certification Standards for Canada’s Skilled Tradespeople

Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) joined by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, David Piccini, announce a collaborative effort to harmonize national safety standards for construction workers by adopting best practices and the highest standards to ensure work is performed safely. This initiative marks a significant step toward national unity in certifications across Canada. At a recent board meeting in Ottawa, CBTU’s Canadian Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution underscoring the strong

January 7, 2026

PRESS RELEASE: AFL calls on supporters to use holiday gatherings to help collect signatures for petition to stop public funding of private schools

EDMONTON: In the wake of the UCP’s decision to erect huge financial barriers to getting referendum questions on the provincial ballot, Alberta’s largest worker advocacy group is calling on its members and supporters to send a message to the government by volunteering to support the campaign to stop public funding of private schools. “The Smith government is stacking the deck in favour of its… Source

December 19, 2025

UCP government used the Legislature as an “anti-democracy sledgehammer” this session, says AFL

The Alberta Federation of Labour, the province’s largest worker advocacy group representing 170,000 workers, is calling on Alberta workers to get ready to fight back against the UCP government in the wake of a legislative session that has made life harder for almost everyone in the province. The Second Session of the 31st Legislature began on October 23 and ends today… Source

December 11, 2025