After a thoughtful and principled debate, delegates voted overwhelming to support a constitutional amendment making the Secretary-Treasurer an unpaid position for the next two years.

"Federation officers should always provide strong leadership. They will continue to do that, whether paid or unpaid," CUPW delegate Darren Steinhoff summed up.

Delegates who spoke indicated that they wanted to send a strong message that the AFL continues to be a strong force in Alberta.

"We want to send the message to the world that we’re not withering, we’re not dying, that we are a strong Federation," said Donnie MacNeil, Regional Vice President for CEP.

Delegates on both sides of the debate put the interests of a strong Federation as the foremost priority. "Why are we not having an assessment of $1 per member to ensure the funding we need to get the job done," asked Tony Gordon, an IAFF delegate from Fort McMurray.

The resolution will expire at the next biennual convention or when AFL membership returns to 110,000, whichever comes first.