FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 1998AFL calls on local MLAs to join the fight to save regional WCB offices EDMONTON – The Alberta Federation of Labour is calling on MLAs from Lethbridge, Red Deer and Grande Prairie to help stop the closure of WCB offices in their communities. Last week the WCB announced plans to close its regional offices in these three cities. Once the closures take effect on Sept. 1, the only remaining WCB offices will be in Edmonton and Calgary. Earlier today, AFL Secretary Treasurer Les Steel sent letters to the six MLAs who represent Lethbridge, Red Deer and Grande Prairie. The list includes: Stockwell Day (Red Deer North); Victor Doerksen (Red Deer South); Clint Dunford (Lethbridge West); Ken Nicol (Lethbridge East); Wayne Jacques (Grande Prairie-Wapiti); and Walter Paszkowski (Grande Prairie-Smoky). "The effect of the closures is clear," writes Steel in his letters. "After the closures take effect, the WCB will be more distant, bureaucratic and faceless than before. We believe the WCB is already too far removed from the concerns of injured workers and should be working to become more accessible, not less." Steel argues that the WCB, which is currently enjoying "bulging surpluses," can easily afford to continue operating the three regional offices – offices which he says provide an important service to injured workers outside of Alberta’s two major cities. "The (regional) offices, while small, provide a presence for the WCB in each city," says Steel. "They provide a place for people to go to get information, have questions answered and conduct business with the WCB… In short the regional offices make working with the WCB faster and simpler … there is absolutely no understandable reason to reduces services in this manner." Letters calling on the WCB to reverse its decision to close the regional offices were also sent to WCB Board Chair, Mary Cameron, and Labour Minister Murray Smith.
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