Media Advisory - Labour groups to launch Alberta campaign for real pension
reform

Ted Morton needs to "get on board, or get out of the way," says labour leader

EDMONTON, Nov. 15 /CNW/ - A new campaign for real pension reform in Alberta will be launched tomorrow by the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

"A crisis in retirement income is looming in Canada and a national consensus is emerging that expanding the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is the solution. But the Alberta government is threatening to derail this chance at real and effective reform," says Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, which represents 140,000 Alberta workers.

The joint AFL-CLC campaign is aimed at pressuring the Alberta government to change its approach and back CPP expansion before Canada's finance ministers gather in Kananaskis to discuss the issue in December.

As part of the campaign launch, the AFL will release a new report outlining how just bad the pension situation is in Alberta. The AFL will also release a new poll showing how Albertans feel about CPP expansion. A campaign website will also be unveiled.

Immediately following the news conference, groups of labour leaders and activists will fan out to scheduled meetings with MLAs to discuss the pension crisis and Alberta's role in solving it. Media will be able to follow some of the lobbyist teams as they make the rounds of MLAs at the Legislature.

Time:   11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 16^th
Location:  Matrix Hotel, 10640 - 100 Avenue, Edmonton

For further information:

Contact:
Gil McGowan, President, Alberta Federation of Labour    Cell 780-218-9888