Knight re-elected as President of AUPE
EDMONTON – Doug Knight, a veteran union activist from Red Deer, was re-elected today as president of the 68,000-member Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
“I am very honoured to be given the opportunity again to lead this great union and advocate on behalf of our growing membership,” said Knight.
Knight, a land management specialist with the government of Alberta, was first elected to the position of president during a bi-election in 2006.
A year into his tenure as president of Alberta’s largest union, Knight told delegates he is anxious to tackle the many important issues facing the union’s diverse membership, including privatization of public services, increasing workloads, antiquated labour legislation and the exploitation of foreign workers.
“We’re not opposed to foreign workers being brought into Alberta to address chronic labour shortages,” explained Knight.
“We do, however, object to employers exploiting these workers to escape their legal obligations, to maximize profits and to avoid honouring existing collective agreements. We are prepared to fight vigorously against employers who participate in this type of unacceptable corporate behaviour.”
AUPE Local 001 Chair Ann Green had challenged Knight for the position of president.
Knight will be sworn into his second full term in office at the convention’s closing session tomorrow afternoon at the Edmonton Delta South Conference Centre.
Bill Dechant was re-elected by acclamation to the union’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer position.
Jason Heistad, Lorraine Ellis, Sandra Azocar and Erez Raz were elected as vice-presidents of AUPE in voting throughout the day Friday.
Heistad, the only incumbent VP, along with Ellis and Azocar, were elected on the day’s first vice-presidential ballot, in the morning.
But it took three more ballots until the fourth VP achieved a clear majority. Raz was declared elected at 6:15 Friday evening.
Heistad is a member of Local 071, employed at Olds College. Ellis is a member of Local 002, employed by Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, while Azocar is a Local 006 member who works as a social worker at the Edmonton Crisis Unit. Raz is a Correctional Officer at the Edmonton Remand Centre.
For additional information, contact:
Doug Knight, President, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-265-6655 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)