Peter, the plight of Alberta workers is well known out here in Ontario as well. Personally I feel for all Canadian workers regardless of who or where they work.
Rob, you are very right. As far as I'm concerned, major corporations use scare tactics no different than extortion when it comes to negotiations with the Feds. If a company cannot run a business profitably on their own dime then they should not be in business. Canadian Taxpayers deserve better.