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'Lots of skilled people in province'

Worker shortage a 'myth' - union

Alberta's labour shortage is a myth, says the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

DARCY HENTON

[ 2007-03-01 ]

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Alberta's labour shortage is a myth, says the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Tim Brower, IBEW Local 424 business manager, says non-union contractors are using the "myth" of a labour shortage to bring in temporary foreign workers who are taking away jobs from Albertans.

"There is a shortage of unskilled people in this province. I won't deny that," he told reporters at the legislature yesterday. "Tim Hortons is looking for people. 7-Eleven is looking for people ... but when it comes to skilled people in this province, there is no shortage. I am the expert. I have them available."

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Brower said 1,000 electricians in his union are unemployed or working other jobs because they can't find work in their trade.

"I have run into my members working at Home Depot handing out electrical components," he said. "Some of them are driving trucks."

NDP Leader Brian Mason blamed contractors who apply for permits for temporary workers while claiming there isn't anyone available locally.

"Companies are bypassing unionized workers and are being facilitated by the provincial and federal government," he said. "This is a policy that undermines the interests of the people of Alberta and particularly working families in this province."

He suggested the problem could be corrected by changing the process to require companies to prove they have contacted "legitimate" unions for workers before looking for overseas help.

Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry spokesman Lorelei Fiset-Cassidy said the province has no responsibility for the temporary worker program, but it has pressed the federal government to make it easier to import foreign workers.

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"We know that temporary foreign workers can fill a lot of gaps in the labour force when Albertans are unable or unwilling to take jobs in certain locations, but we always like to see and expect to see that Albertans get these jobs first," she said.

She said all anyone has to do is check the newspaper help wanted ads to know there is a labour shortage.

"It's real and we're looking for concrete solutions."

She said Alberta's 3.6% unemployment rate is the lowest in 30 years.

But Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said construction activity has declined recently but temporary workers are still flooding in.

"We think it's a perverse situation," he said.

McGowan raised his concerns with Employment Minister Iris Evans at the legislature yesterday.