EDMONTON – It may be fun to stay at the YMCA – but working there is another story.

The YMCA of Northern Alberta has removed three long-term employees who just happened to be leading an effort to get other employees to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The three employees have eight, ten, and twenty-two years of experience working for the employer. Two of them were well qualified for a new position posted one month after the layoff notices were delivered.

CUPE has filed an Unfair Labour Practices Complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, calling for the employees to be given their jobs back and for a declaration that the YMCA is engaging in illegal behaviour.

“The YMCA is union busting,” said Raj Uppal, CUPE Alberta President. “When an employer goes after the union leadership – and only the leadership – it’s to stop the union from succeeding.”

“It’s illegal, and it’s disgraceful.”

CUPE and the YMCA have been requested to provide available dates for pre-hearing meetings between July and December 2026.

Calgary, AB – As conciliation between WestJet and CUPE 8125, the union representing WestJet flight attendants, approaches its conclusion, the local is calling on the federal government to respect the collective bargaining process and refrain from unnecessary intervention under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code.

Section 107 was intended to address exceptional circumstances under the Canada Labour Code. However, its increasing use in federally regulated labour disputes has raised serious concerns throughout the labour movement about government interference in the collective bargaining process.

Those concerns intensified last summer when the federal government used Section 107 during the Air Canada flight attendants’ labour dispute, preventing workers from exercising their full bargaining rights and referring the matter to the Canada Industrial Relations Board. Many unions viewed that intervention as a troubling precedent that risks undermining confidence in free and fair collective bargaining.

“Collective bargaining and the right to strike are protected rights in Canada,” said Alia Hussain, President of CUPE 8125. “When governments intervene before parties have had the opportunity to fully exercise those rights, it risks altering the balance that is essential to meaningful negotiations.”

CUPE 8125 believes this issue extends far beyond WestJet. The growing willingness of governments to intervene in federally regulated disputes affects not only workers bargaining today, but every worker and union that will bargain in the future. The integrity of the collective bargaining process depends on both employers and governments respecting the rights that workers have fought for and that Canadian courts have repeatedly affirmed.

While the union remains committed to reaching a negotiated settlement, significant issues remain unresolved as conciliation approaches its conclusion. If an agreement is not reached and the statutory process under the Canada Labour Code is exhausted, WestJet flight attendants could be in a legal strike position in the first few days of August.

CUPE 8125 is calling on both WestJet and the federal government to commit to allowing the collective bargaining process to proceed as intended and to provide every opportunity for the parties to reach a negotiated agreement at the bargaining table.

Danielle Smith’s expensive, American-style health care scheme coming to Alberta this fall 

Edmonton, AB – This week’s announcement that the UCP government is pushing forward with a two-tier private healthcare model spells more bad news for Albertans needing care and for our entire public healthcare system.

Despite a legal opinion substantiating that Bill 11 breaches the Canada Health Act, this government is determined to push forward with their privatization agenda to enrich their friends and healthcare insurance companies at the expense of Albertans. 

“The announced regulations provide totally inadequate safeguards to ensure that the public system will not be starved by medical practitioners opting to work in a private for-profit capacity,” said Raj Uppal, CUPE Alberta President. “Minister Adriana LaGrange has already confirmed there is no set minimum number of hours that physicians will have to work in the public system while also taking part in for-profit practice. Doctors will also have the ability to tell patients what their potential wait time is in the public system or, that they can skip the wait time by paying out of pocket for a private surgery. That’s just not right.”

Alberta is already failing on its wait time metrics in a significant number of medically necessary and life-saving surgeries. This reckless decision will mean those people are left waiting even longer while private surgeries are being performed in our public hospitals.

“There is no evidence this decision will increase capacity or shorten wait times,” Uppal continued, “this simply allows rich Albertans to jump the queue while the rest of us are left struggling without the care we need. In fact, the use of public hospitals for these private surgeries will undeniably reduce the capacity for the public system and put our public dollars towards private profits.”

“We call on Danielle Smith and the UCP government to immediately reverse this decision, repeal Bill 11, and support the will of Albertans.”

“They must fully fund the staff and resources needed to reopen our currently closed operating rooms, support the incredible health care professionals who are ready to do the work, and reduce wait times by using the capacity we already have. Albertans deserve timely care delivered in a strong, fully-funded public health care system.”

The CUPE Alberta Library Employees’ Committee is devastated to see that Bill 28 has passed.

Bill 28 requires the segregation of public library material with content that is deemed “visually explicit”. It also mandates parental permission for youth under 16 to borrow them. Government-appointed inspectors will have the authority to investigate libraries, which raises concerns about political overreach and enforcement.

This bill will affect all library users. It will create barriers to collections and can cause a sense of guilt or shame if users want access to the materials. Age verification will add another element of restriction. It also means that it will take longer to access your library materials. This takes away the ability to quickly browse the shelves and explore collections. Restrictions like this are a direct violation of our intellectual freedom. The government shouldn’t be the ones telling us what we can read, watch, or listen to.

The legislation comes with no funding. It is expected that libraries will need to undertake costly renovations to comply. This could mean creating areas inaccessible to users, storing “visually explicit” books behind counters, splitting collections, and changing the catalogue. Accessing these materials might need specific staff to verify ages. These changes would mean adding more workload to already overworked staff.

The Libraries Act only allows inspection of board records. Bill 28 expands this to the collections, services, and operations of our public libraries. Public libraries are already governed by elected Boards and staffed with capable and qualified library workers. There are already policies and procedures in place at Alberta libraries which address book bans and challenges, and access to information. We disagree that the Minister should be able to appoint inspectors to enter our public libraries, inspect, and restrict what the public can access, use, or borrow.

If you believe the government has overreached and should not restrict free access to information, please send a letter to your MLA.  

“Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.” – Lady Bird Johnson

CUPE Alberta is currently looking for a full-time van driver for approximately a three-month term to start as soon as possible. This would be a straight book-off from your Employer for the duration of the assignment.

The role involves supporting CUPE Alberta events and engaging with locals, members, and communities across the province on behalf of the Division. It is a great opportunity for members who enjoy travel, event support, and connecting with CUPE members throughout Alberta.

To apply, please complete the following application form:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/2HUCgXkrVJ

 

CUPE Alberta is hiring a Temporary Full-Time Administration and Support person.

Expected Start Date: June 24, 2026
End Date: December 31, 2026

Click here to view the job description.

Applicants are invited to apply for the position by
May 22, 2026 @ 4:00 PM (MST).

All applications (Resume and Cover Letter) are to be sent directly to the CUPE Alberta Recording Secretary, Kelly Spence, secretary@cupeab.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calgary, AB – Flight Attendants at WestJet, represented by CUPE 8125, have issued a formal notice of dispute following more than seven months of ongoing negotiations that have not produced sufficient progress on key issues.

CUPE 8125 represents approximately 4,400 cabin personnel at WestJet mainline. Since serving notice to bargain last September, the union and WestJet have met multiple times each month in an effort to reach a new collective agreement.

At the centre of the dispute is a growing gap between the work flight attendants are required to perform and the outdated system that determines how that work is compensated. Flight attendants are responsible for passenger safety from the moment they report for duty, yet significant portions of that time are not fully compensated under the current system. On average, flight attendants work 35 hours every month unpaid.

“Flight attendants are performing increasingly demanding work in a safety-sensitive environment, and we are some of the lowest paid in Canada”, said Alia Hussain, President of CUPE 8125. “The system that governs our compensation was built for a different time, and it no longer reflects the value of work being done today.”

The union is also seeking improvements to scheduling and basic working conditions that support a safe and sustainable operation.

“Flight attendants have remained patient and professional throughout this process, but delays cannot continue,” Hussain added. “We are looking for meaningful progress at the table on issues that affect our members and their ability to provide reliable service for our guests.” 

CUPE 8125 emphasized that its goal is to achieve a negotiated agreement and minimize any impact on travellers.

“We understand how important travel is, particularly as we approach the busy summer season,” said Hussain. “Our focus is on securing a fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the realities of the job and the value of the work being done every day.”

The union is calling on WestJet to engage meaningfully at the bargaining table to address these concerns.

EDMONTON – Unions representing thousands of City of Edmonton workers are warning that any attempt to introduce profits or public-private partnerships into city recreational services will come out of the pockets of Edmontonians using these services.

Sterling Valentine, President of CUPE Local 30, and Bryce Jowett, President of Civic Service Union 52, said a recent discussion in council to consider changes to how the city provides rec centre service could easily lead to increased costs for Edmontonians.

“We’ve been through this over the years in Edmonton and other municipalities across the country,” said Valentine. “Recreation is a vital public service enjoyed by people of all ages and incomes. Introducing private partners puts that at risk by allowing companies to try to squeeze a profit for themselves by raising costs or cutting programs.

Once you factor in profit for private operators, where is the public good?”

“Public recreation facilities are affordable because we want to encourage fitness and health,” said Jowett. “If we were to charge the same rates as private gyms, many Edmontonians would not be able to access our services.”

Valentine said that under a profit-based system, Edmontonians would pay more for swimming lessons, ice skating, pickleball courts, personal trainers and daily access to all facilities.

“There are plenty of GoodLifes and other private gyms around. We need public facilities because there is a need for fitness programs that are accessible to all citizens,” said Jowett.

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Dax Law, CUPE 70 Library Director, spoke to reporters yesterday on how Bill 28 will impact library workers who will have to make sense of the confusing, vague, and problematic legislation.

Bill 28 will require the physical segregation of library materials the government deems “explicit” and will make those materials inaccessible to the public unless they go through library staff.

“Right now, we have no clear understanding of how many items in our collections would be affected,” said Law. “But we do know this will mean that adults would be forced to ask library staff for permission to borrow a book or movie the government has decided is too ‘graphic.’”

Sue Gouw, CUPE 70 President, said, “For workers, this new system would mean constantly being pulled away from essential services like helping patrons and running community programs to act as gatekeepers. That’s not what library staff signed up for.”

Law continued, “We are trained professionals. We have been handling questions about age-appropriate materials for decades without issue. As library staff, our focus is on helping people find the right book, not blocking them from what the government decides is the wrong one.”

Law also touched on a new and troubling element of Bill 28: the potential for library inspections and professional consequences for staff.

“This possibility creates a chilling effect in our workplace,” said Law. “Instead of being able to support intellectual freedom, workers may feel pressure to over-restrict access to avoid complaints or investigations. That’s not good for staff, and it’s not good for the public.”

“We’d like the government to work with library professionals,” said Gouw. “Library staff have decades of experience managing collections responsibly. Instead of imposing top-down rules, the government should trust that expertise and support libraries in continuing to serve their communities.”

Gouw finished, “At its core, Bill 28 is unnecessary, unworkable, and creates more problems than it solves. It increases workload, threatens privacy, and restricts access to information. We are calling on the government to reconsider this legislation and work with library professionals, not around them.”