President's New Year Message

The New Year is a point-in-time for self-evaluation and preparation for the year ahead. We look at our performance. What did we do right? What could we do better? What needs to change? The Manitoba Federation of Labour is no different.

Recently the MFL held its between-conventions Think Tank. This time, we evaluated the MFL and how we relate to our affiliates and the larger world. Throughout the two day event, a common theme emerged. We need to find a way to 'get the word out'. The word used over and over was 'communication'.

We need to communicate better with our affiliates and our 96,000 members. We also need to communicate more widely with others in the labour/social justice/political movement. And we need to let the public get to know us.

In order to shape our communications agenda, you will be seeing more of the MFL in the New Year. As long time visitors will have notice, this web site has been totally revamped. It will be frequently updated with fresh, breaking stories.

Our other communication tools, such as our news letter and Senior Contacts information updates will be revamped, as well. They will be posted on our web site to allow for a wider reading of our publications. Our Executive Council meetings and decisions will be reported on this web site as well. This will lead to more transparency at the MFL.

The Manitoba Federation of Labour will continue to grow with the times and become better at serving the needs of our affiliates and their members. These communications changes are an important part of that process and will help keep you and the public at large plugged into what we are doing and why.

I wish our affiliates, all union members and other Manitoba workers, and all Manitoban's generally, all the best in 2006.

Darlene Dziewit
President, Manitoba Federation of Labour