NEW SFL PRESIDENT
Johb ready for challenges
The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour’s newly elected president, Lori Johb, is hopeful that the change-up will breathe new life into the organization and its causes.
“Our labour movement is faced with a lot of challenges in our province,” said Johb from the SFL’S annual convention on Saturday afternoon. “I think that maybe bringing a new voice and a new perspective in the leadership might be able to help that.”
She credited former SFL president Larry Hubich with creating a solid foundation during his 16 years in the role, a foundation she hopes to build on during her time as president.
“It’s pretty exciting and a little bit daunting,” she said. “But I think that I’m up for the challenge.”
Although she is new to the leadership role, Johb is no stranger to the labour movement or the SFL.
Starting in the 1990s, she has served as a shop steward, course facilitator, unit chair and executive board member in her union, SEIU-WEST. She has served on the executive council of the SFL, first as a vice-president, and has been secretary-treasurer since 2010.
Living in Leroy, Sask., Johb works at the Humboldt hospital. Her work with SEIU-WEST has focused on improving awareness and education around occupational health and safety as well as domestic violence.
“I think coming from the front lines and working in a rural hospital, my experience there is going to help me a lot with the new role,” she said.
She addressed some of the challenges mentioned by Hubich during his last speech as president, including a deficit of over $71,000 and a minimum wage that is the second lowest of any province or territory in the country.
“Convention this week has passed an increase to our per capita,” said Johb, adding that the SFL hasn’t increased their monthly fees for many years. “I think that’s something that was long overdue. I don’t believe our deficits will be challenges.”
The SFL voted in favour of in- creasing the monthly fee — per capita affiliation fee — to $1.17 from $1.07 to help offset the deficit.
She’s hoping to open up conversations with the province about pursuing a living wage, something Hubich was passionate about addressing during his speech on Wednesday.
“No person who works full time should be trapped with belowpoverty level wages,” said Hubich on Wednesday.
“Nobody ... should have to bust their ass for some of the wealthiest corporations on Earth while those companies make millions of dollars in profit and workers still need to visit a food bank.”
Johb said a living wage just makes sense and can work to help communities strengthen and thrive.
“We need to make sure our government is listening to us,” she said. “We need to work with community members and we need to let them know that the labour movement is there to help them and to work with them and together we can do some really great things.”
As Johb looks toward the future, Hubich recalled the past.
During his speech on Wednesday, he reflected on the successes of the federation over the past 16 years, most notably when it won the constitutional right to strike for every worker in Canada at the Supreme Court in 2015.
He ended his remarks with some advice for the sisters and brothers of the SFL. “Be good to yourself,” he said. “Be kind to one another. Always remember whose side you’re on and always have your co-worker’s back and never back down from fighting the boss.”
No person who works full time should be trapped with below-poverty level wages.