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!
Where we gather.
We acknowledge we are gathered on Treaty 1 Territory and that Manitoba is located on the Treaty Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk Nations. We acknowledge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis.
We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories and are grateful for the opportunity to live, work and meet here. We thank the generations of Indigenous people who have cared for these lands for thousands of years and acknowledge the unique and sacred relationship that Indigenous people have with the land, water and all living creatures, and their role in protecting the earth since the beginning.
We acknowledge and are committed to confronting the historical and on-going colonialism and violence against Indigenous peoples and joining in solidarity with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
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”)
Our affiliates
Representing over 43,000 workers in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Labour Council’s affiliated Union locals reflect the whole spectrum of organized labour in Canada. Public and private sector, clerical, service and industrial workers, social service, education, and health care, and all other sectors of work, join together through the Labour Council to give voice to the realities within each sector.
Our Structure
Directly chartered by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and proudly affiliated to the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL), the WLC speaks out as Labour’s voice on municipal issues and realities and promotes the social and economic well-being of all workers municipally, provincially and nationally.
Monthly meetings.
Each affiliated union votes to join the Labour Council, to which it pays a monthly dues allotment of 50 cents per member, per month. Each local is entitled to send delegates to the Labour Council meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month, except July & August.
At the meetings, delegates from the various locals and affiliates report on matters affecting their membership, and learn about issues and realities affecting local Unions in the Winnipeg area.
Your responsibilities as a delegate to the Winnipeg Labour Council:
- Attend meetings on a regular basis
- Email the WLC Admin if you are unable to attend, due to: working, Union business, family, vacation or illness
- Reporting on matters affecting you and members of your local
- Participating in projects and campaigns organized by the WLC, MFL or CLC through the WLC
- Reporting back to your local on Labour Council actions and decisions
- Volunteering on WLC Committees, to attend events and participate when possible
Committees.
Delegates of affiliated Unions are invited to join the WLC’s active committees to join us as we build stronger collective action, and to represent the realities of all sectors of work.
Each committee is different and will meet monthly by setting a meeting schedule and communication method that works best for the group. By joining the committee, affiliated delegates are able to represent their Union and work, alongside other Sisters, Brothers, Friends, and community allies from all over our city.
- Education Committee:
Working in conjunction with the WLC Executive, the Education Committee will coordinate and organize the WLC’s educational programs year-round.The committee will do this by hosting and coordinating educational events that will assist affiliates with labour education, political action, and social justice education. Whenever possible, they will work with our affiliates, other central labour bodies and when appropriate, community to enhance and share education that already exists. Our educational events will be primarily for affiliates but, when appropriate may be opened to our trusted community partners.Examples of education events could include: Campaign training for municipal, provincial and federal campaigns and educational workshops on current and relevant topics (climate/environmental issues, indigenous/reconciliation issues & solidarity, etc.) - Engagement & Action Committee:
Working in conjunction with WLC Executive, the Equality, Engagement and Action committee will work towards equality of all workers and to educate workers of all human rights issues; To promote the interest of affiliates and generally advance the social well-being of workers.This committee will be responsible for community outreach, engagement and events. This committee will work with affiliates and other central labour bodies to bring issues to light that affect workers and our community and to support trusted community partners in the work that they do. Examples of community outreach could include: Rossbrook House, UW Days of Caring, collection drives, etc.This committee will also be responsible for coordinating labour action for our affiliates, including supporting campaigns and promoting labour matters of our affiliates. May Day parade/events will be tasked to this committee.
Executive
The WLC Executive is elected by delegates from our affiliated unions. The current Executive is comprised of:
Awards
Recognizing our members’ work and accomplishments.
United Way
United Way and Labour.
Stronger together since 1965.
United in Caring
United Way and Labour have been partners for more than 50 years
The partnership developed around a common interest: ensuring that workers and their families have access to social services in their community.
United Way Winnipeg is proud to have been founded by a joint effort of the Winnipeg Labour Council and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, and we have had a long standing, constructive working relationship since 1965. It’s a legacy and impact that Union members and activists have every reason to be proud of.
Many workplaces than run fundraising campaigns are unionized. But the partnership goes deeper than just financial support.
Labour representatives volunteer with United Way Winnipeg as members of our Board of Trustees, our Campaign Cabinet Labour Engagement division, and as part of the CLC United Way Labour Community Advocates Program. United Way Winnipeg also has a Labour Director who works to connect to and reinforce awareness of Labour’s work in supporting critical social services through our annual fundraising campaign.
To learn more about our history and partnership, since the early days of the Winnipeg General Strike click here.
