Lethbridge Firefighters Union Withdraws from Alberta Federation of Labour, Demands Leadership Change
In a significant development within Alberta's labour landscape, the union representing Lethbridge firefighters has officially severed ties with the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and has called for the resignation of its president, Gil McGowan. This move comes after months of growing dissatisfaction with the federation's direction and leadership.
Formal Withdrawal and Leadership Criticism
In a December 3 letter addressed to AFL President Gil McGowan, Lethbridge Professional Fire Fighters President Brent Nunweiler formally communicated the union's decision to withdraw from the federation. The letter outlined persistent concerns regarding McGowan's leadership and the overall strategic direction of the AFL.
"This decision follows ongoing concerns that we have raised in previous discussions regarding your leadership and the overall direction of the AFL," wrote Nunweiler in the correspondence, which was intended to remain private but later surfaced publicly.
Teachers' Strike Highlighted Systemic Issues
The union president pointed to the teachers' strike last fall as a pivotal moment that exposed what the firefighters' union perceives as fundamental flaws within the AFL's operations. According to Nunweiler, the federation demonstrated "significant inaction, a lack of coordination, and an overall sense of disorganization" during this critical period for Alberta's labour movement.
Nunweiler emphasized that at a time when workers across the province needed "cohesion, clarity and strong direction," these essential qualities were "noticeably absent" from the AFL's leadership.
Loss of Confidence in Federation Leadership
The Lethbridge firefighters' letter expressed a profound loss of confidence in the AFL's ability to effectively represent workers under its current leadership. "Our members deserve — along with every other worker in this province — a labour federation that is capable, responsive and prepared to advocate for all workers regardless of which government is in power," the letter stated.
It continued with a stark assessment: "Unfortunately, we no longer have confidence that the AFL, under its current leadership, can meet that standard." This loss of faith culminated in the formal call for McGowan's resignation, with the union asserting that "Alberta's labour movement needs leadership that can unite and effectively represent workers across all sectors in an increasingly challenging environment."
Final Firefighters' Association to Depart
In a Wednesday interview, Nunweiler revealed that the Lethbridge Professional Fire Fighters was the last remaining Alberta firefighters' association still affiliated with the AFL. "The direction of the AFL doesn't align with what our membership deserves," he explained. "We've chosen to withdraw and travel the labour path on our own with the other firefighters in the province."
Nunweiler expressed disappointment that the private letter had become public, stating, "I'm disappointed that it made its way into the public." Despite this unintended publicity, the union remains committed to advancing its issues alongside other Alberta firefighters without AFL involvement.
AFL President Responds to Withdrawal
In a Wednesday statement, AFL President Gil McGowan addressed the withdrawal, noting that most firefighter locals had left the federation more than a year ago. According to McGowan, those departures occurred because firefighters believed the AFL had become "too political and too confrontational with the UCP government" under his leadership.
McGowan offered a different perspective on the Lethbridge union's departure, stating that this particular local "left because we weren't successful in organizing a general strike to protest the Smith government's use of the notwithstanding clause to strip teachers of their right to strike."
This development represents a significant fracture within Alberta's organized labour community, with one of the province's key public safety unions now operating independently from the main provincial labour federation.
