Alberta NDP volunteers were ignored and demeaned, former workers say

Two Alberta NDP workers say they quit recently because they could no longer stomach a party culture that demeans and ignores volunteers, with the majority of those targeted being women.

Sharie Valentine says too often staff are rude, belittling, and condescending to volunteers and potential candidates, adding she is aware of volunteers being shouted at in meetings.

Krista Li (LEE) says she quit as the constituency president of Calgary-Bow earlier this year after her board learned off Twitter who their candidate would be.

Li says volunteers are not treated as active, engaged members but rather as brand ambassadors with orders to simply pedal what the party is selling.

Their comments come a day after a leaked letter from 15 N-D-P riding presidents and regional executives called for an independent probe into what they term a pattern of mistreatment of volunteers.

The party says it is working on changes and updates to its anti-harassment policy to ensure a respectful workplace.