EDMONTON — Digital democracy was in full swing this morning as about 1,000 Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) delegates cast their votes for the union positions of Vice President and Executive Secretary-Treasurer in another show of people power this year.
Yesterday, President Guy Smith was re-elected by acclamation to represent over 90,000 Alberta workers employed in health care, provincial government services, education, and boards & agencies. Today, delegates elected their six Vice-Presidents and one Executive Secretary-Treasurer. The successful candidates are:
- Sandra Azocar (VP)
- Bobby-Joe Borodey (VP)
- Mike Dempsey (VP)
- Bonnie Gostola (VP)
- Darren Graham (VP)
- Susan Slade (VP)
- Jason Heistad (Executive Secretary-Treasurer)
President Smith says that working people have always been the true leaders of this province, and over the last three days of AUPE’s first virtual Convention, members have proven this.
“They know where their power lies,” he says. “It’s in each and every one of them, but it’s also in their ability to admit vulnerability because we can’t do it alone. Hundreds of voices coming together, in whatever way possible, will always be louder than one. In each other we find our own strength and spirit.”
This week, close to one thousand union delegates have been meeting online to debate resolutions and decide the direction of AUPE, whose members have been tirelessly protecting Alberta’s most vulnerable during the pandemic and giving voice to everyday people when politicians and employers resolved to muzzle and manipulate them.
“Our openness to debate means we sometimes disagree with each other, but that’s not a weakness,” Smith says. “That’s our greatest strength. That’s family. That’s how we build democracy, and that’s how we’re going to build a better, people-driven province.”
President Smith will be available to speak with media by phone or video between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. this evening.
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For more information, contact:
Celia Shea, Communications, 780-720-8122