AUPE local representatives ponder anti-privatization strategies
EDMONTON – More than 30 representatives of AUPE locals’ anti-privatization sub-committees met at union headquarters today to develop a battle plan for confronting employers who are thinking about privatizing union jobs.
“At convention the resolution was passed that the Anti-Privatization Standing Committee meet with one representative of each local’s sub-committee,” explained Gil Laflamme, Staff Representative for the union’s Standing Committee on Anti-Privatization.
“The focus of today’s seminar was to establish roles and protocols of our subcommittees at the local level,” he said. “Next we’ll identify the sub-committees’ primary functions should be for the future.”
During the morning session, the group focused its attention on ways to identify potential privatization and the contracting out of union jobs by employers. The group then considered strategies for addressing the issue at the local level.
“Identifying the educational needs of members and campaigns in order to properly mobilize members in AUPE’s four sectors was also a priority,” Laflamme said. “We had a very proactive and productive meeting. Our subcommittees now have direction and they can begin focusing.”
The standing Anti-Privatization Committee will provide guidance and resources to help our locals initiate proactive and effective anti-privatization campaigns, he added.
Laflamme said local sub-committees are committed to communicating developments quickly to the standing committee to ensure membership support and resources are available “on quick notice” to respond to employers planning to contract out union work.
Photo: AUPE’s Standing Committee on Anti-Privatization hosted a full-day seminar April 27 at union headquarters for subcommittee members from locals across the province.