President Dziewit Bids Farewell

By the end of this year's MFL Convention, there will be a new president of the Federation. Darlene Dziewit is stepping down from her position. In a speech to the delegates on Friday, she talked about many of the things that have happened since she first became involved in the labour movement in 1970.

"One of the most amazing changes was the advancement of women. In Manitoba in 1977, you could count the number of female union reps on two fingers. Today, we are presidents, directors, officers and leaders in our movement. Some of us are like me, middle aged and white. Many are also young. We are women of all the colours of the rainbow, and most importantly, despite the backlash that has sprung up against the advancement of women in recent years, we are strong, stubborn and breathtakingly smart - and we are here to stay.

"I salute the Sisters in our movement. Without you, my Sisters, our movement would have stayed mired in the past. You led the MFL to support a woman's right to reproductive choice, despite the all male executive board that would have taken the easy way out, avoided the controversy and not supported this fundamental right. And years later, when we were part of the MFL executive board, it was the Sisters that led the MFL to take a position in favour of the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry and to be truly included in mainstream society."

Turning to the present, Dziewit said that "Today in Manitoba, we have some challenges. While our union density of 35.9% (2007, Stats Canada) is second only to Newfoundland in Canada, unions across this country are experiencing membership losses. Since the recession has hit, those losses have accelerated.

"In Manitoba we enjoy first contract legislation, which ensures that newly organized workers are guaranteed a union contract without a strike. We also have alternative dispute resolution legislation which ensures that, in the case of second and subsequent contracts, employers cannot bust their workers’ union by forcing them out on a picket line indefinitely.

"However, in Manitoba, we are not immune to loss in union density. Our organizing needs to improve. We must do everything in our power to organize the unorganized. Only 1/3 of the workers in this province are unionized. We need to use our resources to go out and get the rest. Let's not get into disputes over those who are organized. And let's not fight over jurisdiction.

"After all, it's not like there’s any shortage on non-union workplaces. And, by the way, raiding is not a way to build union density. Spending our members' dues money to go after already unionized workers is both futile and extremely divisive. Nothing makes the right wing happier than unions wasting their energy and resources on internal disputes." Darlene also acknowledged those who have been the labour movement's 'friends', including Manitoba Premier Gary Doer.

"I would like to take a moment to thank Premier Doer for all he has done for working Manitobans. Gary Doer comes from this labour movement. He was a member of our Executive Council when he was President of the MGEA, now MGEU. Premier Doer is the most successful NDP leader our province has ever seen, and I suspect the job of Premier was his for as long as he wanted it. He is as popular today, maybe even more so, as he was when elected Premier in 1999. Much as he drove me crazy from time to time, I wouldn’t trade one day of his tenure as our leader of the NDP for 21 years.

"I know you will all join me in extending our thanks to Gary for all his efforts on behalf of all Manitobans. I know he is ideally suited to become Canada’s next ambassador to the United States. You know we’re on the right track when the American media, FOX, I think, used the words "union influenced", "left wing" and "socialist" all in one sentence when describing Gary Doer. Who knew?"

Several times during her speech, Dziewit had to fight back tears. At the end of her speech, she received a lengthy standing ovation from the delegates.