Manitoba Unions Indigenous Student Prize in Labour Studies
Manitoba’s unions take our responsibility for reconciliation seriously, and part of that work involves increasing the representation of Indigenous people in unions and the wider labour movement, including among union staff, activists and leaders.
As part of our commitment, the Manitoba Unions Indigenous Student Prize in Labour Studies (formerly the Manitoba Unions Indigenous Bursary in Labour Studies) was established to support Indigenous students to pursue post-secondary education in Labour Studies, as a pathway to meaningful work, careers and activism in the labour movement.
The bursary has a value of $5,000 and was offered for the first time in 2024-2025 to an Indigenous undergraduate student in the Labour Studies department at the University of Manitoba. We believe that Labour Studies education helps prepare students and workers to take on important and meaningful roles in unions.
Please help us spread the word by sharing information about the prize with your Indigenous members and contacts, and particularly those who are already engaged or may be considering pursuing Labour Studies post-secondary education. A shareable poster and more information about the bursary, including how to apply, are available here.
Thank you to WAPSO-IFPTE Local 162 for first proposing the bursary as part of their commitment to the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord, as well as to all the other unions that quickly stepped-up to work together to make the bursary a reality and provide meaningful financial support. Sponsoring unions for the initial 2024-2025 bursary included:
Amalgamated Transit Union Local (ATU) Local 1505
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) – Winnipeg
Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) – Manitoba
Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) – Local 998
Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP)
Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL)
Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU)
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) – Prairies
University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA)
Winnipeg Association of Public Services Officers (WAPSO)-IFPTE Local 162
If your union would like to contribute to the bursary and be recognized as a sponsor in future years, please get in touch with Anna Rothney, MFL Executive Director, at ARothney@mfl.mb.ca or 204-953-2563.