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Rachel Notley under fire after hires ex-union negotiator to bargain with unions

Premier Rachel Notley is being criticized for hiring a senior negotiator with Alberta's largest public-sector union to be her new chief adviser on labour talks.

EDMONTON — Premier Rachel Notley is being criticized for hiring a senior negotiator with Alberta's largest public-sector union to be her new chief adviser on labour talks.

Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt says hiring Kevin Davediuk is like the fox guarding the hen house.

Notley's spokeswoman, Cheryl Oates, says Davediuk has worked for unions and for employers and is the best choice for the job.

Davediuk is leaving his post as the No. 2 negotiator with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which represents the majority of provincial public-sector workers.

Notley's government faces difficult bargaining with all of its public-sector unions, including the AUPE, as low oil prices have seen government revenues plunge.