Labour group takes stand in community-league election

Edmonton’s labour council has waded into the McCauley Community League elections in the latest chapter in the fight over the council’s annual Labour Day barbecue.

Bruce Fafard, president of the Edmonton and District Labour Council, sent an email to the heads of its 45 affiliated union locals urging members to take part in Sunday’s vote.

The council has heard from local residents who want the event to remain at Giovanni Caboto Park on 95th Street, he wrote.

“They are disappointed in the direction of the current executive and are seeking to replace them with more open minded, less confrontational executive,” the letter says.

“We would like you to contact your members who live in the area … We need you to encourage them to purchase memberships and get out and vote.”

League president Meredith Porter isn’t happy with the letter, saying the labour council hasn’t provided accurate information about the dispute.

“Telling people to vote a certain way on one issue when there are many issues our neighbourhood faces is irresponsible. I think it’s overstepping their role.”

Porter isn’t running again, but says four other executive members hope to remain on the board.

A professional mediator will be in charge to prevent “uncivil behaviour” at the meeting, which starts at 10 a.m. in the Commonwealth Recreation Centre, she says.

The league says the free Labour Day barbecue for the unemployed has become noisy, overcrowded and leads to days of drunken parties.

The labour council says the complaints are overblown, and they have volunteers picking up garbage and hired police to keep watch.

City officials are allowing the labour group to hold their 25th barbecue in the park this Labour Day, but after that it must move.

Council past president Brian Henderson doesn’t think either option provided — Louise McKinney Park or the Clarke Field parking lot — is safe and hopes to stay put.

Lit “I don’t feel that we’re interfering. What we’re doing is putting the information out to our members who live in the community.”