So-Called Right to Work is off the table in Alberta, CA

Thanks to the efforts of the Building Trades of Alberta (BTA), so-called “Right to Work” laws will not be instituted in the province.

Following a meeting with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Labour Minister Jason Copping, BTA Executive Director Terry Parker and Chairman Ian Robb, the group came to the consensus and got confirmation from Premier Kenney that so-called “Right to Work” is unconstitutional and it will not become law in Alberta.

The Building Trades of Alberta sent a letter to the Premier after his party approved a policy resolution that would institute so-called “Right to Work” in the province.

While so-called “Right to Work” legislation is highly dangerous for the survival of building trades unions jobs, it also harms the quality of the building trades industry as a whole.

“Not only is “Right to Work” unlikely to survive the Charter challenges it would surely produce, it could also lower Albertans’ wages, benefits, protections and more by curbing the ability of unions to collectively bargain,” said BTA Executive Director Terry Parker. “This would do serious harm to both union and non-union workers province-wide, and result in devastating economic consequences.”

Parker goes on to pick apart the various problems that arise in so-called “Right to Work.” Citing the loss in household incomes, Kenney said the policy would do more harm than good in this time of economic uncertainty, as people would be more frugal with their spending habits.

With less income comes less tax revenue. Parker cited the high debt owed by the province and said the reduction in tax revenue would increase this debt.

If so-called “Right to Work” laws were passed in the province, many Albertans would be without work due to their jobs being passed to cheaper laborers from out of the area.

In a release published by the Building Trades of Alberta, the Keystone XL pipeline is hailed as one of these crucial projects.

“One of those cross-border projects is Keystone XL, which we were pleased to see the province invest in,” the release stated. “This investment signaled strong support for the province’s energy industry and the workers who rely on it to feed their families, including many from Building Trades of Alberta affiliates, who have worked hard to bring the pipeline south.”

These statements from Premier Kenney are encouraging for the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers and all of the members of the Building Trades of Alberta.