UFCW Canada is proud to announce that UFCW Local 832 activist Bea Bruske is running for president of  the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). Together with Siobhan Vipond, who is running for executive vice-president of the CLC, Bruske is promising to unite the labour movement and build a stronger future for all workers as part of the Team Unite CLC campaign.

“With your support, we can work to unite the CLC and make our labour movement even stronger going forward,” says Bruske. “Together, let’s make sure that workers’ voices are heard loud and clear, from the grassroots all the way up to the halls of government. Together, let’s achieve fairness for workers and families across our great country,” she adds.

Over the last three decades, Bea Bruske has served workers and families as an activist, workers’ advocate, negotiator, community organizer, and union labour leader of UFCW Local 832. After years of working as a full-time union representative and negotiator for the local, servicing and bargaining for tens of thousands of members in the health care, food production, retail, non-profit, and security sectors, Bruske was elected Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW 832 in 2011.

As Secretary-Treasurer, Bea is responsible for administering the largest private-sector local union in Manitoba, with 20,000 members. She also serves as a Vice-President of the UFCW Canada National Council; as a member of the UFCW Canada Human Rights, Equity, and Diversity Committee; and as a trustee on a several health and welfare trust funds.

Bruske is passionate about advancing disability rights, connecting with rank-and-file union members in their workplaces and communities, and ensuring that workers’ needs inform government policy.

Siobhan Vipond, meanwhile, is currently serving her fourth elected term as Secretary-Treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL). A long-time member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) before joining the AFL, Vipond is a committed trade unionist who works tirelessly to defend the rights of workers in both the private and public sector, and is an advocate on occupational health and safety and women's equality.

“UFCW Canada proudly stands in full support of Bea Bruske for president of the CLC, and Siobahn Vipond for executive vice-president,” says Paul Meinema, the national president of UFCW Canada. “Bea and Siobahn have a bold and clear vision to build a strong future for Canada’s labour movement, connect with members at the grassroots level, and make the CLC a household name not just among union members, but all workers across the country,” the UFCW leader adds.

You can help build the future of the labour movement by showing your support for the Team Unite CLC campaign. Click here to join the campaign today! You can also show your support by Liking, Sharing, and Commenting on the team’s campaign announcement on Facebook, and by posting in support of Bea and Siobahn using the hashtag #TeamUniteCLC.

Activists will vote for the next president, secretary-treasurer, and executive vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress this upcoming May at the 2020 CLC Convention in Vancouver, B.C.