Unions go to court to overturn Capital Power decision

"The citizens of Edmonton own Epcor's power generation assets and they deserve the final say on any sale," say union leaders 

A Court of Queen's Bench justice will be hearing arguments tomorrow in a case launched by a group of labour organizations against the sale of EPCOR's publicly-owned power generation assets.

The group includes the Alberta Federation of Labour and the City of Edmonton's two largest unions, CUPE Local 30 and CSU 52.

They argue that Edmonton City Council breached key provisions of the Municipal Government Act when it went behind closed doors to privately decide to privatize EPCOR's power generation assets.

"We are arguing that City Council had no legal authority to make the decision to privatize EPCOR's power generation," says AFL President Gil McGowan. "And if they did not have the legal right to make the decision, the decision cannot be considered valid."

Representatives of the group - including McGowan and Dave Loken from the Coalition of Edmonton Civic Unions - will be available on Friday before and after the hearing to take questions from the media about the case.

Friday, September 11, 2009
Media Availability: 9:30 am
Court Hearing Begins: 10:00 a.m.
Edmonton Law Courts
1A Sir Winston Churchill Square

Both EPCOR and the City of Edmonton have filed extensive responses to the groups' statement of claim. The hearing is expected to take the bulk of the day.

 -30-

For more information call:
Gil McGowan, AFL President @ (780) 218-9888
Dave Loken, Coalition of Edmonton Civic Unions @ 780-448-8981 (office); 780-237-8656 (cell)