edlc labour reporter - Edmonton and District Labour Council

EDLC LABOUR
REPORTER
Published by the Edmonton & District Labour Council
Annual General Meeting Tuesday March 21 2015 6:00pm Labour Centre 10425-Princess Elizabeth Avenue
March 2016
Climate Change Action = Green Jobs by Cori Longo
This past year, we succeeded in
electing a new government at
both a provincial and federal level.
The year of 2016 marks incredible
potential and opportunity to
introduce policies and legislation
that address climate change. Our
plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions needs to be ambitious
but achievable. The CLC along
with the Green Economy Network
have developed a strategy to
transform to a low to zero carbon
economy by creating One Million
Climate Jobs. Climate action is
critical now. However, there is
much resistance from both
industry and the public.
Apprehension derives from fear of
taking action and what the impact
on workers and families might be.
The fear works in favour of big
industry, we’re up against a giant.
The purpose of One Million
Climate Jobs (OMCJ) is to combat
that fear, address the concerns
and provide reassurance for
Canadians. OMCJ will overcome
hurdles allowing Canada to move
forward on climate change.
In order for this plan to work, we
need a lot of ……..continued on page 3
Labour Honored at the United Way Red Tie Gala
On February 25th at the Untied
Way Red Tie Gala three labour
organizations were honored with
awards of distinction for their
work towards ending poverty in
the capital region. The 2015
campaign began with an
ambitious goal to raise more
funds than the previous year
given the current economic reality
we are experiencing. 2015
campaign chair Ruth Kelly said
“As I’m sure you’re aware, in
challenging economic times, more
families and individuals risk
falling into poverty, but I’m
honoured to be able to tell you,
together, we have raised an
incredible $25.3 million!”
Pictured above—Mike Scott CUPE 30, Dwayne Westling & Mark Turner UNIFOR 1087, Yvonne Bootsman
COPE 458, Bruce Fafard EDLC, Gil McGowan AFL, Perri Garvin United Way, Reg Baskin
March 2016
Vol.27 No.3
Congratulations to UNIFOR Local
1087, the Alberta Federation of
Labour and the Edmonton and
District Labour Council on
receiving the award of distinction
and thank you to everyone for
your support of the United Way.
For more information on the
United Way of the Alberta
Capital Region go to
www.myunitedway.ca.
EDLC Labour Reporter
CPP Expansion Gains Momentum
The CLC is continuing its
campaign for retirement security.
Over the past weeks, the
congress has been organizing
lobbies of MP’s calling on the
government for a universal
increase to the Canada Pension
Plan (CPP), to reduce the age of
eligibility from 67 to 65 and for
an increase to the Guaranteed
Income Supplement (GIS).
Recently, the Minister of Finance,
Bill Morneau has indicated that
he is working with the provinces
towards an agreement to expand
CPP that could come as early as
June.
The CLC applauds this direction
and continues to state that the
best way to address seniors’
poverty is through a universal
increase to CPP.
W
ant to build a youth movement to address
climate change while supporting good jobs and
just communities? Join us at PowerShift Alberta. From
April 1st - 3rd - hundreds of youth from across the
Prairies, the North
and beyond will
learn, build
community, and
get prepared to
make change! We
will prepare to
mobilize the places
where we live and
work to take
meaningful action
March 2016
In addition, the CLC continues to
demand that the government
fulfill their election promises in
regards to the age of retirement
and an increase to GIS. From the CLC
on indigenous rights, address poverty and social and
economic inequality, and create millions of green jobs
while building renewables and the clean energy
economy, and supporting workers in this transition.
PowerShift will be a three day conference in Edmonton,
open to those new to climate activism, as well as those
already active on these issues, and we will leave better
able to find solutions together. Register and find more
information here: www.wearepowershift.ca.
Please share this invite with your communities, and we
are welcoming presentations and workshops on labour
issues and organizing - submit proposals here:
www.wearepowershift.ca/programming_ab.
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EDLC Labour Reporter
support. GEN already consists of
wages and safe workplaces.
organized labour, students,
This plan has 4 strategic priorities
environmental groups, etc. but it also
implemented over 5 years;
must be supported by non-unionized
workers, employers, the public and

Clean Renewable Energy – invest
governments. Obviously, a leading
23 billion in public renewable
cause of climate change is tied to
energy, 300,000 jobs, reduction
industries whether it’s directly or
of 44-110 million tonnes of GHG
indirectly. It follows that if we reduce
climate change, we’re going to lose  Green Buildings – 30 billion in
buildings, 440,000 jobs, 32 –
jobs. That’s why a plan like OMCJ is
126 million tonnes reduction
so necessary to gain public support.
Additionally, OMCJ will also
contribute to other social issues like
poverty, income inequality and
overall unemployment. Labour is a
major player in this plan as the
outcome is to create decent jobs
that are more accessible for all
Canadians. We want jobs that are
secure and permanent with decent

Public Transit – 18 billion
transportation within cities,
220,000 jobs, reduction of 1120 Mt of GHG

High Speed Rail Transport –
move people and freight, (ex
Edm – Calgary), $10 billion,
100,000 jobs, reduction of 1-5
Mt of GHG
1 million new jobs, $81 billion
dollars, 35% annual GHG reduction.
This strategy is ambitious, it is what
we need but it’s also achievable. The
81 billion dollars may sound
alarming but it equates to $16 bill/
year, which is only 5% of the federal
annual budget.
However, we could further reduce
the costs by implementing a different
method for goal #2 which is the
Green Buildings priority. Instead of
fronting the $30 billion dollars. We
could offer a pay-as-you-save
method. Meaning loans to retrofit
buildings making them more energy
efficient could be offered with a
repayment plan from the savings on
energy bills. This would reduce total
cost by $30 billion or one third.
It’s truly a thing of beauty as this strategy tackles climate change while
creating jobs and addressing poverty and inequality. It helps displaced workers
from polluting industries, working poor, unemployed, underemployed, young
people, aboriginal and racialized communities.
If Canada is to adequately address climate change, we need to implement this
and other ambitious plans
now. Continued inaction will
be hefty cost for society. In
order to succeed, we need
to educate, mobilize and
work with labour, concerned
individuals and
organizations to apply
political pressure to achieve
this goal on a national level.
March 2016
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The EDLC Labour Reporter is
published by the Edmonton & District Labour
Council. We welcome your submissions,
letters and comments. Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the
authors and not necessarily those of the
EDLC.
Edmonton & District Labour Council #101–
10425 Princess Elizabeth Ave. Edmonton,
AB T5G 0Y5
(o) 780.474.4747 (f) 780.477-1064
Email: office@edlc.ca
www.edlc.ca
@EdmLabour
EDLC Labour Reporter
March 2016
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EDLC Labour Reporter