December 2005 Executive Council Meeting Highlights

The following is a brief digest of some of the issues dealt with by the Manitoba Federation of Labour Executive Council during its December 2005 meeting. It is a highlight package that does not include details of everything discussed.

Canadian Labour Congress Report

Brother Dave Winter, CLC Prairie Region Director, reported that Sister Debbie Jamerson has been hired effective January 3, 2006 as part of the Prairie Region staff complement and will be stationed in Winnipeg to fill the vacancy created by Sister Iris Taylor's transfer to British Columbia. Sister Jamerson is a long standing Manitoba Government Employees Union member and was active on a large number of union committees. She has been on staff with the MGEU since April 2002, assisting members with their collective agreements.

Brother Winter sketched an overview of activities in the Prairie Region, including a pulp mill closure in the province of Saskatchewan which put about 700 people out of work.

Discussions continue at the National level of the CLC about the recent raid on MGEU members at the Winnipeg based Casinos by the Teamsters.

Premier's Economic Advisory Council

Members of MFL affiliates and MFL staff members are participating on the Premier's Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and its sub-committees. They include:

• Aboriginal Implementation Task Group
• Health Summit
• Skills Development Task Group
• Competitive Task Group

MFL Policy Review Committee

A committee of Executive Council members has been struck to review the MFL Policy Book in preparation for the 2006 MFL General Convention. Members are:

• Dale Paterson, CAW
• Kevin Rebeck, CUPE
• Lois Wales, MGEU
• Jeff Traeger, UFCW
• Janice Chase, Affiliates Representative
• John Doyle (Staff Liaison)

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Manitoba

Council heard a presentation about the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba Bureau from a delegation made up of Wayne Antony, Board Chair; Jim Silver, Board member; and Shauna MacKinnon, Executive Director.

The Manitoba based progressive think tank publishes a large number of reports and studies each year on critical public issues and has a proven track record of generating material that is useful for unions and individuals to use when researching issues.

Manitoba NDP Annual Convention

The Executive reviewed and approved a number of resolutions to be forwarded to the Manitoba NDP Convention in early 2006. They include resolutions on election financing and:

• Employment Standards
• Workers’ Compensation Coverage
• Health Care
• Minimum Wage
• Justice and Overcrowding in Corrections Facilities
• The Civil Service Superannuation Fund
• The Devolution of Public Services
• Essential Services Act

MFL Annual Brief To Cabinet

The MFL's Annual Brief to Cabinet was delivered on Friday December 9. It is posted on the MFL website for your perusal (click here).

Safe Workers of Tomorrow

Sister Ellen Olfert updated the Executive on the recent activities of the Safe Workers of Tomorrow program, which delivers invaluable workplace and health and safety information to students across Manitoba, who are in their first paid employment position or soon will be. It is meant to help reduce workplace injuries among young people by educating them on safe practices, and their rights under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, including their right to refuse to do unsafe work.

May Works Presentation

Council heard a presentation from the May Works Committee which organizes a month of activities from late April to early June of each year, celebrating through the Arts the contributions of workers to our society. The delegation was made up of Hugo Torres-Cereceda, Stan Rossowski, Danny Schur and Chair Glen Michalchuk.

Hugo Torres-Cereceda talked about the history of May Works and the activities planned for 2006. Stan Rossowski has developed a project of photographing workers engaged in the Floodway Expansion Project for display during May works.

Danny Schur thanked all affiliates and union members for their support of the musical 'Strike' over the past summer at Rainbow Stage. The musical was a success locally and he is now working on promoting it in other communities. He would like to see this musical performed annually. As part of future plans, Danny is seeking funding from a variety of sources to produce a 10-minute film to serve as an intro for 'Strike'.

Community Unemployed Help Centre Report

Executive Director Neil Cohen introduced the new advocate at the Centre, Tanya Buschau. She has been with the CUHC for 7 months.

Brother Cohen outlined details of the Federal Human Resource Council for the Volunteer Sector. The federal government has announced $700,000 in funding for the Council. It is hoped that the Sector Council will be able to assist the CUHC, along with other non-profit organizations, with Human Resource challenges. A Board has been put in place and an Executive Director has been hired.

There is an 18 member Board in place representing the Volunteer Sectors throughout Canada. Brother Cohen has been named Chair of the Board.

The Federal Government has passed EI Compassionate Leave provisions to allow leave for a person named by a terminally ill patient, to care for him or her. In part, this amendment came about as a result of Neil's efforts. Shortly after Neil’s brother became terminally ill, Neil was denied EI benefits while he cared for him and filed an appeal that lead to the amendment of EI legislation.

Neil reminded Executive that in January the CUHC will be sending out their annual appeal. Personal donations were down in 2005 compared to 2004. The Centre is currently under significant financial pressure as a result of other funding freezes.

Important Dates

• MFL General Convention – November 2, 3, 4, 5, 2006, Winnipeg Convention Centre.
• MFL 2006 Executive Council Meeting Dates - March 6 & 7, June 1 & 2, September 7 & 8, October 31 & November 1, December 4 & 5

MFL Think Tank Follow-up

The MFL holds an affiliate Think Tank between General Conventions. The 2005 Think Tank focused on the internal structure and workings of the MFL. Executive Council will receive a detailed report on the event at the March 2006 meeting.

However, improving communication capacity and practices within the MFL was a consistent theme during the Think Tank and a number of changes have already been made to address some of these concerns:

• The MFL website has been reconstructed to make it more responsive to users and more informative.
• This summary of MFL Executive Council meetings will be a regular practice on a quarterly basis.
• There is a greater use of e-mail to specific groups within the MFL to make the flow of critical information more timely and predictable.

Federal Election

Canadians will elect another federal government on January 23. Executive Council received an outline of action from Canadian Labour Congress Secretary Treasurer Hassan Yussuf and Prairie Regional Director Dave Winter. The CLC will focus on a number of issues during this election, including:

• Health Care
• Privatization
• Competition on Trade – Loss of jobs
• Protection of Pensions
• Pay Equity
• Anti–Scab Legislation

Brother Hassan highlighted the importance of motivating our members to volunteer their time in support of NDP Candidates. The CLC website will have materials that unions and their members will find useful.

Brother Yussuf advised that the CLC does not support Strategic Voting – that is, voting for a Liberal Candidate to ensure the defeat of another party's candidate when an NDP win is not certain. Every vote for the NDP is extremely important, no matter what riding it is in. The MFL will develop material for use in the Manitoba ridings targeted by the NDP.