New report from the Manitoba Federation of Labour focused on solutions to Manitoba’s growing epidemic of workplace violence
(Winnipeg) – Manitoba has a long-standing and growing epidemic of workplace violence, and today the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) released a report which includes workers’ firsthand accounts of violence in areas like healthcare, education, emergency response, security, public transit and retail. The report also includes recommendations for government and employers to act in reducing the violence experienced by workers.The number of workplace injuries that Manitobans suffer due to violence is alarmingly high, and it has also been increasing for many years. In fact, according to data from the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, the number of workplace injuries caused by violence more than tripled between 2015 and 2025. This increase includes a 20 per cent jump in workplace violence injuries in the last two years.
“Workplace violence is out of control in Manitoba,” said Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck. “While this report documents the problem from the firsthand perspective of workers who have experienced violence, it also focuses on common sense solutions that the provincial government and employers can implement.”
The report includes 10 recommendations to better protect workers, including implementing a provincewide workplace violence prevention strategy. Other recommendations include funding safe staffing levels in areas like healthcare, education, and emergency response, ensuring highly trained security personnel in workplaces experiencing high rates of violence, and for the province’s Workplace Safety and Health Branch to enforce existing legal requirements related to violence prevention and response, working alone and joint health and safety committees. The report also calls for the development of a formal training standard on workplace violence.
“Too many workers face violence on the job, but this report makes it clear that it does not have to be this way,” said Rebeck. “By working together, government, employers and unions can solve this problem and make workplaces safer for Manitobans.”
Rebeck added that the MFL is grateful to the workers and unions who shared their experiences and solutions as part of this report, as well as to Karen Naylor, instructor in the University of Manitoba Labour Studies Program, for her contributions.
Media Contact: Anna Rothney (MFL Executive Director), 204-894-1400, ARothney@mfl.mb.ca
Manitoba Federation of Labour
303-275 Broadway Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 4M6
Phone: (204) 947-1400 / Fax: (204) 943-4276
Email: admin@mfl.mb.ca
TO ALL CUPE CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS Sisters, Brothers, and Friends:
Workers from CUPE Local 2722, who work for Oxfam Canada across the country, have been on strike since June 11. They are now in their fifth week of strike, we ask you to support them in their efforts to win a fair contract.
The strike comes after over a year of negotiations, during which CUPE Local 2722 sought to protect key workplace rights and maintain language supporting fairness and dignity for Oxfam workers. Outstanding issues include wages, leave provisions, and fighting off concessions.
You can help striking workers from CUPE Local 2722 by sending a financial donation by e-transfer to Local2722oca@gmail.com. You may also send a cheque made out to CUPE Local 2722 to the attention of National Representative Amanda Gomm at the CUPE Ottawa Area Office, 1378 Triole Street, Ottawa, ON, K1B 3M4.
Please also spend a minute to participate in the e-action below, and share this within your networks. Together, we can help end this strike and win Oxfam workers the contract they deserve!
Support striking workers at OXFAM Canada | Canadian Union of Public Employees
In solidarity,
MARK HANCOCK
National President
CANDACE RENNICK
National Secretary-Treasurer
The enclosed package contains important information for your members. A summary of the contents is provided for your guidance, along with suggested action. Highlights of the June 2026 National Executive Board meeting
Distribute the information throughout your local to keep your members up-to-date on what’s happening within the union.
National President’s Report and National Secretary-Treasurer’s Report to the June 2026 National Executive Board meeting
Circulate the reports to members of the executive and make them available to interested members for their information.
Last week, the Federal and Alberta governments announced their plan to build a pipeline to the west coast that would be 90% publicly funded, costing at least $35 billion. Then this week, Alberta and Ontario came out with another oil pipeline proposal which would run through Manitoba, right near Winnipeg, ending in Sarnia, ON. Premier Doug Ford said that the Ontario government could “foot the bill” if needed.
(Via CBC News)
When asked about the pipeline proposal by Premiers Smith and Ford, Premier Kinew did not answer directly. He told CBC News, “You know, I love Alberta and I love Albertans, so anything we can do to wrap our arms around them and give them a big old hug, I’m open to. […] If there is going to continue to be this referendum question, then I’m open to supporting all sorts of different opportunities to send a message to Albertans that we value them in Canada.”Not sure what to make of that cryptic message but we need to make it clear to Kinew that we are not okay with this. These projects are a publicly subsidized gift to oil and gas companies, while putting all the risks onto Canadians and affected communities. There are no private companies interested in building these projects because the economics are far too risky. And we know that the longer we burn fossil fuels, the more destructive and expensive extreme weather and flooding Manitoba will face like what we’ve endured this summer.
We will not stand for this and will continue to fight against fossil fuel expansion. Join us for our next Feed the Movement dinner (featuring pizza in the park) July 16 @ 5:30-7:30pm to talk about pipelines and other fossil fuel threats.
We’re also continuing to organize for better public transit in Manitoba. We’d love to see you out at our next organizing meeting on July 22nd (see below for more details). Don’t forget to sign up if you’d like to get more involved in our campaign to see 50-50 funding restored!
Thanks for being here.
CAT Events
July 16 @ 5:30-7:30pm: Feed the movement dinner
Join us at Bonnycastle park (Assiniboine by Gary street) for pizza in the park. We’ll talk pipelines and other fossil fuel threats. There will be gluten-free and vegan options. Please let us know if you have any other dietary restrictions.
RSVP here so we know how many people to expect.
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July 22 @ 6-8pm: Transit Community Organizing meeting
Our campaign for better transit in Manitoba is in full swing! Join our organizing team to help plan the next steps together. Come to our next monthly meeting where we will be strategizing ways to build our base of support and increase pressure on decision makers. We will be gathering on July 22nd at Munson Park (475 Wellington Crescent) from 6-8 pm.
Please RSVP here so we know how many people to expect!
Opportunities
Sustainable Building Manitoba is looking for Manitoba homeowners who are planning to upgrade their furnace, windows, or insulation, or have already done so, or who have had a home energy assessment, to share their experience with us and encourage other Manitobans to do the same. You can find out more here.
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Personal Experiences of Environmental Change. Are you 30 years of age or older, living in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba? Participants are invited to share their personal experiences, perspectives, and reflections of environmental change in their everyday lives. All perspectives welcome. As a participant in this study, you will be asked to: Complete a pre-interview computer-based demographics survey as well as one individual interview approximately 60-90 minutes in length [in-person, by telephone, or via Zoom].
For more information about this study, or to volunteer for this study, please contact the Primary Researcher: Allison Morgan (Graduate Student with the Faculty of Social Work): alm924@uregina.ca
Podcast recommendations
From the Ground Up is brought to you by Climate Justice Saskatoon and is broadcast weekly on CFCR 90.5FM, Saskatoon’s community radio station. To mark a year of the Mark Carney government, the host talks with Mitchell Beer of the Energy Mix over 3 episodes about all the changes in climate and energy policy. Listen to episode one here.
Climate in the News
By Bartley Kives for CBC“To make sense of what just happened and what may happen next, here’s the geography and climate science that helps explain our early summer of discontent.”By Dan Lett for Winnipeg Free Press“The province does have a responsibility to help fund transit, and for good reason. The city is revenue-poor and, with ridership declining, it’s unlikely that property taxpayers would welcome an increased burden just to keep Winnipeg Transit running.”By Scott Forbes for Winnipeg Free Press“You might think we would have learned from our last taxpayer-funded pipeline, the TMX. Originally estimated to cost taxpayers just $5 billion, that price tag soared to over $34 billion. The new pipeline is estimated to cost $35-43 billion.”