Manitoba Federation of Labour

Kevin Rebeck – President of the MFL

Kevin has been active in the labour movement for over 30 years. He was re-elected President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour for a fifth term in 2022. With Kevin as president, the MFL has successfully advocated for a number of progressive changes to Manitoba’s laws and policies, in solidarity with the Manitoba’s labour movement and working people throughout the province. These changes include improvements to workplace injury prevention programs, better WCB coverage, a higher minimum wage, and making Manitoba the first province to provide paid leave for victims of domestic violence.

Legislative changes that the MFL is proud of during Kevin’s term include:

First of its kind legislation to ensure any Manitoban worker who is experiencing domestic violence (regardless of gender) has the right to access employment leave to seek the help they need. Kind legislation to ensure any Manitoban worker who is experiencing domestic violence (regardless of gender) has the right to access employment leave to seek the help they need.

Kevin and the MFL helped to push for changes to the Workers Compensation Act to recognize post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a work-related occupational disease. As a result of these changes, The Workers Compensation Board presumes a worker’s conditions was caused by their job, making it much easier to access supports, treatment and compensation.

Kevin and the MFL pushed for legislation that provides more protection for highway construction workers by clarifying speed zone limits in construction zones and increasing fines for drivers who put workers at risk by speeding in them.

Under Kevin’s leadership, the MFL has won a number of improvements to workplace health and safety rules, including a five year plan for workplace injury and illness prevention, a requirement that more and smaller workplaces have joint Health and Safety committees and worker representatives, more workplace inspections, long-term funding for Safe Workers of Tomorrow to educate young workers about their rights, and the enshrinement in law of workers’ rights to refuse dangerous work and be protected from discrimination.

Kevin and the MFL lobbied to make legislative changes to ensure WCB establishes a presumptive schedule that recognizes known occupational diseases as clearly occupationally caused, so that the work-related nature of such diseases is established and accepted in advance to make it easier for workers to submit claims and receive the coverage they are owed.

This new model improves workplace safety and health by rewarding strong prevention programs and reduces the incentive for employers to suppress injury claims in order to reduce premiums.

Kevin believes that it is labour’s role to be an active participant in the political process, to advocate and push governments to do more to help working families. The MFL continues to fight for working families on a number of fronts, including advocating to make Manitoba’s minimum wage a living wage, improving the Workers Compensation Board system and protecting The Labour Relations Act.

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President’s Reports

Kevin is a committed partner in strengthening communities and has served on:​

  • United Way of Winnipeg’s Campaign Cabinet and Board of Directors
  • Chair and Board Member of the Manitoba Community Services Councils
  • Board Member of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries 

Timeline:

Kevin was first elected as MFL President in 2009 and was re-elected in 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022. Prior to that, he served as President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Manitoba Division, General Vice President of CUPE National, and 2nd Vice President of the Winnipeg Labour Council.