1950s: Decline of coal mines results in loss of over 7000 jobs; decline of militant mine unions
1951: Certification of CIL Plant in Edmonton creates first long-term union organization in Alberta’s petroleum industry.
1954: Province-wide strike of Hotel Restaurant Employees union centred in Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge; is defeated
– Ft. Saskatchewan chemical workers organize local of the International Chemical Workers Union; later to merge with the Oil Chemical & Atomic Workers
1956: Merger of the Canadian Congress of Labour with the Trades & Labour Congress forms the Canadian Labour Congress; leads to mergers of Alberta Trades & Labour Congress with the Industrial Federation of Alberta; followed by local labour councils
1957: Civil Service Association leaves the Alberta Federation of Labour citing differences in political philosophy
1959: Alberta establishes Civil Service Commission; reduces the role of patronage in provincial politics and services