Gil's unmatched track record

Gil is one of the most successful and influential union leaders in Canada today. He’s exactly the kind of leader we need in these troubled times!

Here’s a list of some of the victories Gil has been able to win by mobilizing the power of Alberta workers and unions:

Common Front (Gil is the convenor and chair of this exciting collaboration between affiliate and non-affiliate unions aimed at building worker power and influence).
Prime Minister’s summit on how to deal with Trump tariffs (Gil was invited by the Prime Minister to attend a special national meeting on how Canada should respond to the threat of US tariffs; Gil is a leading voice in building labour’s response to Trump).
Anti-CLAC campaign (Gil is leading an exciting collaboration with the Building Trades to help address the threat posed by CLAC and other employer-dominated unions).
Growing the AFL with a long list of unions who are considering affiliation (the list of unions that Gil and Cori are currently in talks with will be unveiled at the Convention!)

Gil helped mobilize Albertans against Danielle Smith’s threats to pull Alberta out of CPP.
Gil led the successful strategy to thwart Jason Kenney’s Bill 32 (the UCP’s attempt to de-fund unions).
Gil mobilized the labour movement to win numerous legislative victories during NDP government’s time in office (reforms to Labour Code, OHS Code and WCB Act; increased minimum wage etc)
Gil led the effort to win independent joint governance for our provincial public-sector pension plans (which provided permanent protection for our public-sector pensions).
Gil mobilized the labour movement to stop Ralph Klein’s Third Way in health care.
He mobilized the labour movement to stop Allison Redford’s Attacks on public sector pensions.
As co-chair of Energy Diversification Advisory Committee (EDAC), Gil developed recommendations that were implemented by both NDP and UCP governments, which led to the creation of thousands of jobs for Alberta workers (few Federation of Labour leaders in any province can say they helped create thousands of good, union jobs — but Gil can!)
As chair of multi-union Coal Transition Coalition (CTC), negotiated a $45 million transition package for workers displaced by the phaseout of coal-fired electrical power in Alberta.

As chair of a coalition of Alberta private-sector unions (the Industrial Policy Coalition) Gil convinced the federal government to create diversification tax credits with union-friendly string attached, leveraging billions in investment and creating thousands of jobs for Alberta workers.
Gil pressured two federal governments (Harper and Trudeau) into reversing expansions of the exploitative Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Gil helped convince the last federal government to pass the Sustainable Jobs Act, which gives workers a seat at the table in planning related to economic policy.
Gil helped convince the current federal government to pass federal anti-scab legislation, which strengthens to right-to-strike for millions of Canadian workers in federally-regulated sectors across the country.

Gil has secured more than $1 million in money from foundations to help fund the AFL’s advocacy work on “future proofing” and diversifying the Alberta economy in the context of climate change and the unfolding global energy transition.
Gil sits as sponsor board chair of Alberta’s largest pension plan, the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP), where decisions by labour-side board members have helped make LAPP one of the most stable and successful pension plans in the country.
Thanks to his high media profile and his significant social media presence, Gil makes sure worker issues are heard!

Gil McGowan