February Executive Council Meeting

The first MFL Executive Council Meeting of 2007 was held on February 5 and 6. It was a busy two days with many issues discussed.

One of the first orders of business was swearing in a new Executive Officer - Sister Roxie Cook of the Selkirk Labour Council. MFL President Darlene Dziewit welcomed her to the Executive Council and administered the Oath of office.

Dave Martin provided the Executive Council with an overview of the issues that the Manitoba Building Trades Council were dealing with at the present time. The Trades Council includes 5,000 members in 15 affiliate unions.

Current activities include working for greater enforcement on Workplace Health and Safety to reduce construction deaths and accidents. There is also currently a great deal of concern regarding inter-provincial trade agreements being implemented in Manitoba. There are implications involving workers compensation, health and safety, recognition of trade certificates and other issues.

Ellen Olfert reported on Workers of Tomorrow which this year is marking its 10th anniversary. The project is now close to having given 100,000 students presentations on safe workplaces.

Sister Olfert has been working on new initiatives in the area of training. The Workers of Tomorrow project will soon be offering Workers Compensation Advocacy Training that affiliates who do not have their own training programs will be able to participate in.

It was also reported that the MFL had met on January 23 with affiliates to discuss the upcoming provincial and federal elections. The decision was made that it is necessary to run a campaign during the elections to communicate with MFL affiliates and their members. The MFL will provide affiliates with information from Elections Manitoba on what can be done within the Elections Financing legislation in Manitoba.

The MFL knows that it is not in the best interests of working people to have a Conservative government. There is a need to remind union members about what provincial Conservatives did the last time they were in government and how hard the NDP have worked to put balance back to legislation.

It has been a while since the MFL Executive Council last met in Portage La Prairie, so it was agreed that the May 10 and 11 meeting would be held there.