EDMONTON—Alberta’s new employee support program has one union leader suspicious of the government’s “sinister” intent.

The Employee Labour Relations Support Program will provide “information, resources and supports related to union matters,” such as union certification and decertification, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

The provincial labour and immigration ministry program is for unionized employees and anyone considering joining a union. Information for workers will be posted online, with a phone number and email form so people can contact labour and immigration staff directly.

“By launching the employee labour relations support program, we are keeping our promise to provide assistance to unionized workers in Alberta,” labour and immigration minister Jason Copping said in a statement.

“This program is part of our commitment to restore balance in the workplace by giving workers access to factual information and, in some cases, supports or advice from a neutral source.”

Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said the move appears to be part of a larger agenda of wage suppression from the United Conservative government.

He points to several moves the government has made since the spring election, including a minimum-wage freeze, wage cuts for teenage workers and Bill 9, which postponed spring negotiations with roughly 180,000 public-sector workers.

“The government says this is just about providing information, but something much more sinister is clearly going on here. I have no doubt that they’re going to use this new office to actually encourage people to decertify their unions,” McGowan said.

“This is union busting, plain and simple.”

Labour and immigration spokesperson Brittany Baltimore rejected that characterization.

Baltimore said the program is not meant to encourage employees to certify or decertify unions but “simply to provide them factual resources so they understand their rights and responsibilities under Alberta’s labour legislation.”

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