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Wednesday, May 7
The 2025 Prairie Regional Council opened in Winnipeg with a moving performance by the Aboriginal School of Dance. Council Chairperson Guy Desforges welcomed more than 240 delegates and thanked Unifor activists for the time and effort they spent making the union successful over the past 12 months and urged delegates to practice a healthy work-life balance to prevent burn-out to effectively continue union-building.
Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle provided his report of the PRC's activities, outlining the union’s efforts in various provincial elections, job actions, lobbying, and campaigning done to benefit members and workers in general.
McGarrigle said the resistance to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods have brought out the best of the fight within the Canadian working class. As a result, the fightback against attacks on working peoples’ rights in from conservative governments in the prairies is growing stronger: "Solidarity between unions will be critical to resisting regressive legislation and to defend the right to strike. We know that the government won’t limit its attacks to one union or one sector," he said. "Workers across the province can be successful if we treat an attack on one of us as an attack on all of us. We can fight and we can win."
Regional Directors Jennifer Murray and Samia Hashi brought greetings from the other regions and talked about the incredible work being done by members in the east.
National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier addressed delegates about the union’s financial health as well as the union's education campus in Port Elgin, ongoing efforts to improve internal processes, and his work as Unifor's lead on the transportation sector, both in Canada and abroad. He stressed that the union is as strong as ever and the work that locals are doing is making a difference.
"Thank you all for the work you do, day in and day out to better serve your members and make our communities a better place," said Poirier.
Poirier was followed by Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who began by thanking Unifor members for always standing up as a vocal and tireless advocate for workers. He also talked about the concrete steps his government is taking to put Canadian economic interests first with strategic energy investments.
Thursday, May 8
On the second day of PRC, delegates received a review of the advocacy work done by members across the country during the federal election. The Political Action Committee and the Director of Membership Mobilization and Political Action Josh Coles took stock of the campaign and thanked everyone who was involved in the union's most comprehensive election effort to-date.
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi joined PRC delegates to share an update on the caucus' efforts to resist the anti-worker policies of the Danielle Smith government. He pledged to fight her separatist agenda with every tool at his disposal. He outlined the party's priorities for a sustainable economy that provides good, safe jobs and growth that lifts up all families. "A good economy can co-exist with a sustainable one. It is up to all of us to craft a new economy and a new future, and workers have to be at the heart of that."
Nenshi was followed by Unifor National President Lana Payne, who thanked him for his leadership and anticipated a better Alberta when he becomes premier. During her report, Payne outlined everything that is at stake in the union’s fight against corporate greed and the trade war with the United States, as well as how workers will win.
"Workers everywhere are feeling the anxiety of the moment because it is workers who are on the front lines of this economic trade and investment war. And Donald Trump has been clear he is coming for our jobs," she said. "We have a fight on our hands, and there is no room for complacency in this union, not in the fight for workers. Not ever."
She also emphasized the need for national unity and solidarity to save jobs and resist annexation, and called out Danielle Smith in particular "Do not expect Canadians to support you if you don't support Canadians."
As the meeting continued, the PRC’s LGBTQ standing committee introduced Michaela Chotka from Sunshine House, a community drop-in and resource centre focusing on harm reduction and social inclusion. She reviewed the organizations many, many services and encouraged Unifor members to learn more about similar groups in their communities. After the presentation, locals collectively donated $2,600 to the house, which was matched by the PRC.
Delegates heard a sobering presentation from the Women's standing committee and Unifor Women's Director Tracey Ramsey about Intimate Partner Violence and the union's campaign to have IPV declared an epidemic in every province.
Jill Wilson from Drag the Red gave very personal remarks to PRC delegates about growing up in the foster care system and being exploited on Winnipeg streets. Her experience has helped her be a strong advocate for sex worker safety and unhoused women. Wilson discussed the mission of Drag the Red and encouraged Winnipeg-area members to volunteer to do the difficult work on the Red River. She explained how the project helps demonstrate that the effort to help families find closure will never stop. Following her presentation, Unifor locals, the PRC, and the national office collectively donated $12,000 to Drag the Red.
Indigenous Youth Leader and Community Activist Jeremy Raven addressed delegates about the struggles of growing up in poverty and the difficulties facing youth, including gang culture. He discussed his positive experience with restorative justice systems and how one can re-build a life after incarceration.
The day ended with an insightful presentation from EFAP Liaison Mike Byrne about strategies to protect and enhance mental health, including raising awareness to eliminate the stigma surrounding asking for help. He challenged delegates to continue to approach mental health from the perspective of inclusion and being pro-active in taking care of each other: "Doing nothing is not neutrality. Doing something can be uncomfortable but that's okay if you can learn from it."
Friday, May 9
Day 3 of the Council opened with remarks from Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck. Beck was enthusiastic about the relationship with Unifor, acknowledging that the union's support strengthened working peoples' voice in the legislature in the last provincial election. She emphasized that Unifor has been playing a pivotal role in the defence of good jobs and Canadian sovereignty and must keep up the fight. “This is a moment for us to band together and unite to get things done. That's what will overcome the forces of separatism and set us up for a brighter future.”
The 2025 Prairie Regional Council concluded with a passionate discussion about the urgent need to pressure the federal government to secure safe drinking water for remote Indigenous communities. A full list of resolutions adopted at the meeting can be found below:
