Unionized firefighters in Lethbridge intend to leave the Alberta Federation of Labour. (Image Credit: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge firefighters exiting Alberta Federation of Labour, calls for president’s resignation

Jan 27, 2026 | 9:15 AM

A major move by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

A letter from IAFF Local 237 (Lethbridge Fire Fighters) President Brent Nunweiler to the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) has leaked.

Nunweiler told AFL President Gil McGowan that the local firefighters’ association will be withdrawing from the union.

“This decision follows ongoing concerns that we have raised in previous discussions regarding your leadership and the overall direction of the AFL,” writes Nunweiler.

He says, during the recent strike by 51,000 teachers in Alberta, the AFL displayed “significant inaction, a lack of coordination, and an overall sense of disorganization within the federation.”

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“At a time when Alberta’s labour movement needed cohesion, clarity, and strong direction, these elements were noticeably absent,” explains Nunweiler.

The AFL is not the organization that represented the striking teachers – that is the Alberta Teachers’ Association – but Nunweiler says unionized workers deserve a labour federation that is capable, responsive, and prepared to advocate for all workers, regardless of which government is in power.

“Unfortunately, we no longer have confidence that the AFL, under its current leadership, can meet that standard.”

That is why Nunweiler is also calling for McGowan’s resignation as AFL president.

Nunweiler adds that the letter was meant to be “private correspondence” between the IAFF and the AFL, but it was recently shared on Reddit. Nunweiler did not state whether he believes the letter was intentionally shared online by AFL.

LNN has reached out to the AFL for comments and is awaiting a response, but McGowan recently told CBC that most firefighter union locals had left the AFL more than one year ago because they believed that the union had become too political and too confrontational with the UCP government.

Nunweiler did not give any indication for which union it may seek to join after leaving the AFL.