"We have to remain competitive and this fee increase and levy are just one more reason for them to question if it’s best for them to stay in Manitoba." — Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President

“We have real concerns about the impact that the workloads, stress, and strain of their jobs is having on our members.” — Jerry Earle, NAPE President

It’s a measure of how much secrecy surrounds P3 privatization schemes that councillors weren’t even allowed to know if the companies being awarded contracts had met the minimum technical requirements.

“Only by standing side by side, not only on International Women’s Day, but every day, can we improve the lives of women in Canada and around the world.” —Elisabeth Ballermann, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer

Community workers negotiate wage increases, retroactive pay and improvements to allowances and leaves.

"Implementing National Pharmacare is a must, the Trudeau government's own advisory panel says so in its interim report. Politics must not get in the way of doing the right thing for the country the government must commit to act." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

“It was a total team effort. It’s very exciting for a group to negotiate and get its first contract completed." — Susie Proulx-Daigle, NBU President

“Tens of thousands of people signed up to support We Own It, and you can be sure they’ll think twice about voting for politicians who don’t keep their word and instead put corporate profits before ‘the people.'” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President

"A dysfunctional, over-crowded, under-funded prison system puts everyone at risk-our members, the inmates they work with, and the communities that those inmates get released into." — Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President

"Significant investments are needed in Ontario’s correctional system to ensure the safety of staff, offenders and our communities.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President

As long as the federal government continues to take a hands-off approach to the economy and to use P3s and other privatization schemes, there is a good possibility we will see a repeat of the SNC-Lavalin scandal. What’s needed is a change in direction.

“As the strongest health care union in the province, these new members recognized MGEU/NUPGE’s proven track record, along with the lowest dues in Manitoba, as the right fit for them. We are so proud to welcome them to the MGEU/NUPGE!” — Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President

“Kenney’s ideology is that it’s okay for the man in the Rolls-Royce to drive to the front of the health care line and force the rest of us to wait longer, even for vital, life-saving care." — Mike Parker, HSAA President

“Shuffling bureaucratic deck chairs won’t help patients. The Ford plan is taking a heavy-handed, top-down approach that will take billions of health care dollars from frontline patient care.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President

The conference was packed with insights from the National Union’s research into issues facing women workers in Canada ranging from pay equity, job security, pensions, child care, caregiving and gender-based violence.