Council expands to include youth rep

The voice of young workers will now be heard more clearly in the Alberta labour movement thanks to a decision by convention delegates May 4^th to establish a permanent youth position on the AFL’s Executive Council.

The resolution to create a new position for youth was put forward by the Executive Council in response to a growing recognition that the future of the labour movement depends on organizing, educating and mobilizing more young workers.

"For many years now, we’ve been talking about the need to bring youth into the labour movement," said AFL Secretary Treasurer Les Steel when he rose to speak in favour of the resolution. "One of the best ways to do that is to bring them into our discussions and give them a seat at the table. That’s why it makes sense to create this position."

Don MacNeil from CEP agreed with this sentiment, adding that increased youth involvement will benefit older union members just as much as it will help young workers.

"I saw what these young people were doing in Quebec City," he said. "We can all take a lesson from their activism … it’s going to reinvigorate us."

The resolution to create a youth seat was passed unanimously. The first meeting of the AFL’s new youth caucus was held immediately following adjournment yesterday. As per the resolution, it was open to all delegates aged 30 and under. Fifteen people showed up and they elected Brother Chris O’Halloran, a delegate from UFCW Local 401 in Calgary, as their representative to sit on Executive Council. Sister Edith Liard of CUPW in Banff was selected as the alternate.

O’Halloran said he was extremely pleased about the resolution and proud to serve as the AFL’s first youth representative.

"Young people are the future and the muscle of the labour movement," he said. "Without labour’s support, we’ll continue to weaken as a movement. With the right guidance and leadership, great things can and will happen. I think with this position, youth issues will become part of labour’s dialogue."