Monday: Unifor brings together activists, politicians, labour leaders and strategists for Prairie Council

EDMONTON, April 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor is bringing together activists, labour leaders, political strategists and top thinkers for a two and a half day meeting of the union's Prairie Regional Council, starting on Monday April 27, in Edmonton.

More than 200 people are expected to attend the event, leading up to the Alberta election and including a discussion of preparation efforts for the upcoming federal election.

"Our members are very engaged in the political process and extremely motivated to ensure union members are turning out in higher than ever number at polls," said Unifor Western Regional Director Joie Warnock.  "Unifor members from right across the Prairies are getting involved – Unifor members can make a difference in the future of our provinces and the future of this country."

The economy, the Alberta election, how to create good jobs in the resource sector through refining natural resources locally, Bill C-51, political mobilizing, justice for missing and murdered aboriginal women and their families and the week of action on child care (Vote Child Care - May 10-17) will all be up for discussion.

Unifor's Prairie Regional Council is a yearly event where the priorities and goals for the Prairie Provinces are discussed and debated.

The council meeting will take place at the Chateau Lacombe Hotel, 10111 Bellamy Hill Rd NW in the Alberta Ballroom (lobby level). Members of the media are welcome.

The following are highlights from the agenda:

Monday

9:25am -          Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley
10:20am -        Western Director Joie Warnock Report & Recommendations
10:45am -        Unifor National President Jerry Dias
1:15am -          Manitoba NDP MLA Kevin Chief
2:30pm -          Federation of Labour Presidents Panel: Gil McGowan (Alberta), Larry Hubich (Saskatchewan), Kevin Rebeck (Manitoba)

Tuesday
9:05am -          Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Peter Kennedy
9:30am -          The perilous record of the Stephen Harper government: CCPA Research Advisor/ Canadians for Tax Fairness Diana Gibson
3-5pm -            Day of Mourning Rally with the Edmonton and District Labour Council at Grant Notley Park

Wednesday
9:30am -          Political Strategist Kathleen Monk
11:15am -        The economics of In-province upgrading in the oil sands, AFL President Gil McGowan

For the full agenda, please visit: http://www.unifor.org/en/whats-new/event/unifor-prairie-regional-council-2015

Unifor was founded Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. With more than 305,000 members, Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector. Unifor represents more than 40,000 workers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba combined.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Shannon Devine (on-site in Edmonton) 416-302-1699 or [email protected]