What the Workers Started in 1919 Continues

In her speech to the MFL Convention, the Honourable Nancy Allan, Manitoba's Minister of Labour, looked back over the past 90 years and the changes the labour movement has brought about. She said that in many ways, the improvements for workers began with the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.

"The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 improved the lives of working people and their families in Manitoba. The courageous stand of those workers continues to resonate today. The tradition of solidarity and activism forged that spring continues through the efforts of everyone in this room.

"The Winnipeg General Strike paved the way towards the recognition of workers rights to organize and bargain through their union. The strike also played an important role in the advancement of women. It helped give women the right to organize, and in turn, women became more involved in the labour movement. The mostly female telephone operating workers were among the first to walk off the job."

Of course, being a politician, she couldn't help but point out the world of difference that exists between political parties and their attitudes towards the labour movement.

"When the Filmon Conservatives were defeated and Gary Doer became premier, we brought labour back to the table as an equal partner after a decade of neglect and outright hostility. The record of our time in government speaks for itself.

"Despite the strenuous opposition from the Conservatives and Liberals, we tackled the Labour Relations Act to restore the balance that had been destroyed over the previous decade. These Labour Relations changes repealed regressive provisions that trampled on the rights of unions and their members and introduced a new, innovative mechanism to send long labour disputes to arbitration.

"Under our government Manitoba now has one of the most stable labour relations climates in Canada. We have reduced the number of days lost to strike or lockout by more than 50 per cent.

"In 2007, following four years of consultation with labour, employers, and technical experts, we finished a complete overhaul and modernization of the Workplace Safety and Health Regulations, which had suffered from a decade of neglect under the previous Conservative government. We hired more safety and health officers, nearly doubling their numbers from 37 to 68. We stepped up enforcement – inspections have increased almost 400 per cent. We improved training and launched the Safe Work public education program. As a result, we have seen a 29 per cent reduction in the time loss injury rate in Manitoba. And we will continue to improve Workplace Safety and Health because every worker deserves to come home safely at the end of their day.

"During their 11 years in power, the Conservative government increased the minimum wage only four times. And the Conservative minimum wage increases did not even keep up with the cost of living. We have increased the minimum wage every year since we were elected. Manitoba's minimum wage was just $6 an hour in 1999. Just on Thursday, we raised it to $9 per hour. It was your happy convention present!