Peter Olfert
Encyclopedia
Peter Olfert is a labour leader in Manitoba
, Canada
. He has been president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union
(formerly the Manitoba Government Employees' Association) since 1986. He has also served as a vice-president of the National Union of Public and General Employees
.
Olfert was raised in a Mennonite
family in Steinbach
, and later moved to Winnipeg
. He completed his Grade 12, was a maintenance worker and embalmer in the 1970s, and served as a postal clerk in the Department of Government Services
before being chosen as MGEU president. He attended Labour College in Ottawa in 1985.
Olfert has represented his union in negotiations with three different provincial governments. He was often critical of the austerity measures pursued by Premier
Gary Filmon
's administration in the 1990s, and at one stage accused Filmon of intimidating the union into silence. He was also a frequent opponent of Labour Minister Vic Toews
, and led home-care workers and casino workers in protracted battles against the government in 1996.
In 1997, Olfert endorsed a provincial deal to end the Filmon government's policy of wage freezes and unpaid days off. In the same period, he worked in a successful battle to extend employee benefits to same-sex couples.
Filmon's government was defeated by the New Democratic Party
under Gary Doer
in the 1999 provincial election
(Doer, ironically, was Olfert's predecessor as MGEU president). Olfert's union accepted a deal to allow for optional unpaid leave days in 2002, though he has nonetheless engaged in several difficult negotiations with the Doer government.
Olfert became acting chairman of the Crocus Investment Fund
in late 2004, at a time when the fund announced that it was freezing sales and reviewing the value of its assets. He submitted his resignation in May 2005, after the fund experienced further difficulties. Shortly thereafter, he said that he was shocked by reports of lavish overspending by officers, and added that he had not always been given accurate information about the fund.
Olfert declined to comment on his political views in a 1996 interview.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He has been president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union
Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union
The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union is a trade union in Manitoba, Canada. It has over 32,000 members, and is currently the largest union in Manitoba...
(formerly the Manitoba Government Employees' Association) since 1986. He has also served as a vice-president of the National Union of Public and General Employees
National Union of Public and General Employees
The National Union of Public and General Employees is a Canadian trade union. Taken in total it is the second largest union in Canada. Most of its 340,000 members work in the provincial public service sector...
.
Olfert was raised in a Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
family in Steinbach
Steinbach, Manitoba
Steinbach is a city of approx. 13,500 people in the southeast corner of the province of Manitoba, Canada, a short distance from the capital Winnipeg. Steinbach is the largest community in the Eastman region of Manitoba. The city is located in the R.M. of Hanover and bordered to the east by the R.M...
, and later moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. He completed his Grade 12, was a maintenance worker and embalmer in the 1970s, and served as a postal clerk in the Department of Government Services
Ministry of Government Services (Manitoba)
The Minister of Government Services is a former cabinet position in the government of Manitoba.The position was created on January 13, 1871, carrying out the responsibilities of the Board of Public Works from the defunct Council of Assiniboia. The minister was originally styled as the Minister of...
before being chosen as MGEU president. He attended Labour College in Ottawa in 1985.
Olfert has represented his union in negotiations with three different provincial governments. He was often critical of the austerity measures pursued by Premier
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
's administration in the 1990s, and at one stage accused Filmon of intimidating the union into silence. He was also a frequent opponent of Labour Minister Vic Toews
Vic Toews
Victor "Vic" Toews, PC QC MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented Provencher in the Canadian House of Commons since 2000, and currently serves in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper as Minister of Public Safety. He previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from...
, and led home-care workers and casino workers in protracted battles against the government in 1996.
In 1997, Olfert endorsed a provincial deal to end the Filmon government's policy of wage freezes and unpaid days off. In the same period, he worked in a successful battle to extend employee benefits to same-sex couples.
Filmon's government was defeated by the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
under Gary Doer
Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
in the 1999 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1999
The Manitoba general election of September 21, 1999 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada....
(Doer, ironically, was Olfert's predecessor as MGEU president). Olfert's union accepted a deal to allow for optional unpaid leave days in 2002, though he has nonetheless engaged in several difficult negotiations with the Doer government.
Olfert became acting chairman of the Crocus Investment Fund
Crocus Investment Fund
The Crocus Investment Fund was a Labour Sponsored Venture Capital Corporation in Manitoba, Canada.In 2004-05, the company stopped trading and was forced into receivership following allegations that it misled shareholders and overvalued its assets...
in late 2004, at a time when the fund announced that it was freezing sales and reviewing the value of its assets. He submitted his resignation in May 2005, after the fund experienced further difficulties. Shortly thereafter, he said that he was shocked by reports of lavish overspending by officers, and added that he had not always been given accurate information about the fund.
Olfert declined to comment on his political views in a 1996 interview.
External links
- "Peter Olfert elected to new term as MGEU president" (2004 article)