Union rights are democratic rights, says well-known economist

Unionized workers must stand up for non-union workers’ rights, economist Armine Yalnizyan told more than 350 delegates to the biennial Alberta Federation of Labour conference in Edmonton, including about 70 representatives of the United Nurses of Alberta.


“Stand up for workers rights as if our democracy depends on it … because it does,” said Yalnizyan in a passionate presentation to the first day of the AFL convention Thursday.

The theme of the convention, scheduled to run until Sunday, April 28, at the Shaw Conference Centre, is “Unions Stand on Guard for Thee,” an idea the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Senior Economist returned to more than once in her remarks.

Yalnizyan underscored the importance of standing up against undue influence of corporate interests in Alberta’s political scene. “There is no sure route to attacking workers rights – unionized or non-unionized – than attacking unions.”

The award-winning economist praised the federation for its recent work in exposing anti-union construction executives attempting to tie large political donations to political promises to revise Alberta’s Labour Code. 


Later Thursday, Canadian Auto Workers union senior economist Jim Stanford told delegates “collective bargaining is needed more in Alberta than it is anywhere else in Canada.”

Stanford highlighted the value-added nature of the economy, and the role that workers play in creating GDP. “Supply and demand do not determine wages in this country and supply never equals demand in the labour market,” Stanford said.

The well-known economist challenged the myth of Alberta’s labour shortage. He argued that the asymmetry of the employment relationship means the only way workers in Alberta will be heard is by speaking together, in one voice. 

Workers of Alberta are getting a smaller share relative to their productivity and this reflects not just wages and pensions, it is about standards of living and the ability to engage in communities. According to Stanford, unions need to have a real impact on the resources driven economy of Alberta.

“Unions make life better for everyone in a community, not just union members.“

Other speakers today include New York State Nurses Association director Jill Furillo, and pollster Allan Gregg.