EDMONTON - Union leaders and activists from around the province will gather in Edmonton this week to attend the biennial convention of the Alberta Federation of Labour.

This year, the AFL has borrowed a slogan from the Quebec City anti-globalization protests to act as the convention's theme. The slogan is "This is What Democracy Looks Like!"

"We'll be talking about democracy both inside our unions and in the broader Canadian society," says AFL President Audrey Cormack. "In particular, we'll be talking about the need for unions to get involved in the democratic process in order to better protect and promote the interests of working people."

The convention will take place May 3-6 in Edmonton. It will be held in the Crowne Plaza-Chateau Lacombe Hotel, which is located at 10111 Bellamy Hill.

Delegates to the convention will hear from a number of high-profile speakers including, Dave Barrett, former Premier of British Columbia. Barrett will address the convention on Thursday, May 3 at 11:30 a.m.

In addition, a panel will be held Saturday morning at 10 a.m. to discuss the threat to democracy and workers rights posed by international trade agreements like NAFTA and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

The panel will include former Edmonton Journal columnist Linda Goyette, health care researcher and author Colleen Fuller, anti-globalization activist Scott Harris and native activist Rodney Bobiwash.

Convention delegates will also discuss a wide range of resolutions and policy documents, including papers on human rights, drug testing in the workplace and strategies for political action by the labour movement in Alberta.

This will be the last convention for Audrey Cormack, who is stepping down as AFL president after serving in that position for six years. A new president and Executive Council will be elected by delegates on Sunday morning.

"The past six years have been eventful for the labour movement and we have had our fair share of victories," says Cormack. "I'm confident that this convention will lay the groundwork for even more success for working people over the next two years."

For more information call:

Gil McGowan, AFL Communications at (780) 483-3021