Nenshi faces fierce attacks in the NDP contest and denies being anti-union

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The previously polite NDP leadership race turned red-hot Wednesday amid allegations that candidate Naheed Nenshi was anti-union.

A letter surfaced in which Nenshi, as mayor of Calgary, called on the province to consider changing union contracts at city hall and freezing wages.

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The letter, sent to then Labor Minister Jason Copping in 2019, said: “I ask your government to consider and consider what measures, if any, could allow for modification of existing and pending collective agreements that would enable the council to move forward to think about a year in 2020. “Wage freeze.”

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Contestant Kathleen Ganley said: “I find it incredibly disturbing. It’s about circumventing the laws and rights that are intended to protect workers. . . and asks to get out of a previously concluded contract.

“Call me old-fashioned, but I think people should honor the agreements they have made and respect workers’ rights.”

The former mayor of Calgary is being accused of not being a true New Democrat because he has never been one before. The union vote within the party, or at least part of it, is seen as crucial to the victory of an NDP lead candidate.

“Look, people can legitimately ask questions,” Nenshi says.

“I’m a newbie, great. But you know, if I focus on a letter from five years ago, rather than a record from 11 years ago, I think that’s a bit of a straw grab – especially if the letter came from the UCP.”

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The council asked Nenshi to present the case to the province. This happens often and mayors comply, even if they don’t necessarily agree with it.

Nenshi says he voted against the motions in advance of the letter, but agreed to send it because the majority opinion was clear.

He adds that he was sure the ideas would never be implemented and that he didn’t want them to. Copping didn’t respond.

The details don’t impress Ganley. “To the best of my knowledge, he voted for it, and that’s public record. So it seems like a weak justification to me.”

Asked whether the letter hurt his campaign, Nenshi replied: “I have spent a lot of time with labor organizations. I think my record with working people is unimpeachable and I stand by it.”

He points out that the Building Trades of Alberta, which represents 75,000 workers and 16 unions, is supporting him as a leader.

The union said it was “proud to support Naheed Nenshi.”

Jeromy Farkas, the conservative city councilor running for mayor to replace Nenshi, cheered when I asked him whether his old foe was anti-union.

“The idea that Naheed Nenshi is anti-union is completely ridiculous,” Farkas said.

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“I just find it ridiculous that instead of focusing on legitimate criticism of his record, his opponents are trying to fabricate these frankly stupid allegations.”

But there is strong criticism from other leadership candidates.

Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labor, said: “He didn’t just send the letter. He voted for the motion.

“This raises concerns about Naheed’s judgment. At worst, it means that he cannot be relied upon to side with the workers in an emergency.

“I can’t think of a single new Democrat who would have signed this letter and sent it to a UCP minister.

“I really hope he apologizes for the letter.”

There is no doubt that the UCP does not want Nenshi to win the NDP leadership.

If they actually leaked this letter to hurt him, it smacks of hypocrisy. This is the government that tore up Alberta’s signed salary agreement in 2020.

This explosion might not hurt Nenshi’s campaign if it is true that party membership has grown significantly since he entered the race.

Many of these new people join because they believe Nenshi can beat the UCP. Even McGowan says the NDP has lost much of its appeal to workers.

For now, it’s clear that after months of mock war, the NDP’s internal battle is finally beginning.

Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald

X: @DonBraid

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