MFL President Representing Labour on Joint Initiative

Workplace Partners Panel bringing together labour, business and government.

At a luncheon in Winnipeg on June 14, the Canadian Labour and Business Centre (CLBC) announced it was establishing a joint Workplace Partners Panel task force in Manitoba. It was also announced that Manitoba Federation of Labour President Darlene Dziewit will represent labour on the task force.

Mal Anderson, President and CEO of Rice Financial Group is representing business on the panel, while the Government of Manitoba is represented by Dwight Botting, Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Training. The national aspect of the CLBC is co-chaired by Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress and Perrin Beatty president and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

The Workplace Partners Panel will report on issues surrounding the impact of our aging workforce on the labour market and the skills mix. In addition, Darlene Dziewit says she wants to ensue the panel looks at how we deal in Aboriginal peoples, women and youth, so that their needs can a part of the training and education provided in Manitoba.

In her speech at the luncheon where the establishment of the panel was announced, Darlene said that "the MFL executive council fully supports our involvement in this exciting initiative. The issues related to our aging workforce and the impact on our labour market and skills mix is a priority issue for labour.

"Ways need to be found to integrate young people and Aboriginal peoples into the labour market to fill these skills needs. As well, we need to protect the hard earned rights of workers to retire with dignity.

"Here in Manitoba we have a number of challenges related to the skilled trades, the integration of immigrants into our workforce and the need to provide quality employment for all. While the challenges and solutions might be of a local or regional nature, the opportunity to connect to this national initiative is welcomed."

Similar Workplace Partners Panels have already completed their work in Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada. Present at the announcement luncheon were Larry Hubich, President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and Michel Boudreau, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. Both reported on the success of the Workplace Partners Panels in their provinces.