Since 1894, the Winnipeg Labour Council has been the political and social voice of working people in Winnipeg.
Where we gather.
We are located in Winnipeg, on Treaty 1 Territory.
Since 1894, we have proudly represented all workers, from all sectors of work, and we acknowledge, with respect, the importance of honouring the land on which we gather.
We hold our meetings and events on the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene, Dakota and Dene Peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, and we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation, collaboration and action.
Our Beginnings.
The first Unions were the the building trades and the industrial craft Unions, and as Winnipeg was changing, as Canada was, Immigrants and indentured workers from countries other than the British Isles, were arriving in the thousands in Winnipeg - on Treaty 1 Territory. The workers worked in factories and warehouses, and large numbers of workers settled in the North End of Winnipeg and built vibrant communities.
In the early days, several attempts were made to bring Unions together, but it was not until March 3, 1894 that the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council was founded.
First elected Executive:
President - W.J. Hodgins (Bricklayers and Mason Union)
Vice President - H. Cowan (Typographical Union)
Secretary-Treasurer - William White (Carpenters Union)
The first council was made up of at least 10 Unions representing workers from the building trades, butchers, bakers, typographers and freight handlers. It was affiliated to the national central labour body of the day, the Trades and Labour Congress.
Meetings were held twice per month for the council and its 6 active central committees - Legislative, Municipal, Education, Arbitration, Organizing and Parliamentarian.
The mission of the council was described as “a body of representative [workers] banned together for mutual protection and education purposes; a body at once in touch with every condition of the labour world, and a strong arm in case of a strike or trouble in the ranks”.
(Source: “The Winnipeg Labour Council 1894-1994: A Century of Labour, Education, Organization and Agitation”)
Who we are.
Since it was founded in 1894, The Winnipeg Labour Council (WLC) has served and represented workers in Winnipeg, on Treaty 1 Territory.
The Winnipeg Labour Council (WLC) is the political and social voice of working people in Winnipeg - Treaty 1, and we have been actively involved in advancing and advocating for the rights and protections of workers, in all sectors of work.
Our Labour Council has a long history of organizing, supporting and building strong community engagement and collaboration. We were a founding partner of United Way Winnipeg in 1965, when Brother Art Coulter was an Executive Officer of the WLC. He was a prominent leader in both the Labour movement and the community sector, and was instrumental in building Labour into the founding structures of United Way Winnipeg.
What we do.
The WLC is active in organizing and supporting Manitoba’s Labour movement through events, campaigns, solidarity and action, and education and training.
We are leaders and collaborators within the Labour movement. We participate in, and/or support events such as:
Labour Day
May Day
December 6th National Day of Remembrance
International Women’s Day
National Day of Mourning
Black History Month
2SLGBTQ+ Pride Month
and many more equity, rights based, and worker related days of action, awareness months/days!
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any”