IFPTE Hosts 2023 Manitoba Legislative Advocacy Conference
This week IFPTE Locals from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg to participate in the Federation’s annual legislative conference. The conference is in its second year and is intended to give IFPTE’s Locals in Western Canada an opportunity to work in coalition to advocate on the major legislative issues impacting their membership.
Among the items discussed were maintaining good union represented jobs in Manitoba, including workers employed by Bell/MTS and represented by TEAM/IFPTE Local 161, and guarding against efforts by Provincial and Local governments to erode the pay and collective bargaining rights of government workers.
IFPTE Canadian Area Vice President/WAPSO,IFPTE Local 162 President, Richard Mahe, chaired the conference, and commented that, “this year’s conference was not only an opportunity for us to bring more members into our legislative advocacy program to advance issues such as maintaining and growing union represented jobs here in Winnipeg, but throughout our Province. It is important that we continue to build our legislative program for the betterment of all of our members.”
SUP/IFPTE Local 160 President and Canadian Area Vice President, Michelle Johnston, also commented that, “it was heartening to see that the rank-and-file members see the value in moving forward our legislative agenda, as our strength as unions comes from our grassroots efforts. The Society is proud to have a longstanding legislative program addressing our Provincial and Federal concerns and will be here to work in Solidarity with our Sisters and Brothers here in Winnipeg on all of our legislative concerns.”
TEAM/IFPTE Local 161 President, David Eyjolfson, was among those in attendance, along with TEAM Executive Director, Erin Spencer; Manitoba Federation of Labour President, Kevin Rebeck, and; IFPTE President, Matt Biggs, and Secretary-Treasurer, Gay Henson, who addressed the conference. IFPTE thanks Bill Fitzpatrick and Anna Liu for organizing the conference.
