USW staff representative Carla Thibodeau is this year’s recipient of the Women in Leadership Award, given by the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL). The award ceremony took place in October in Moncton, N.B.
Every year, the NBFL recognizes a woman in the trade union movement who is serving in a leadership role with distinction. The awardee must demonstrate that she makes a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion of the principles and policies of her union, the NBFL, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) or district labour councils and advances of the economic and social welfare of workers in New Brunswick. Thibodeau was nominated by USW Local 1-306, a local union that she has serviced since 2019.
About Carla
Carla became a Steelworker in 1998, working at Beaubear Credit Union. She served as the USW Local 9270 President for 16 years before joining the USW staff role in 2019. She has been instrumental in bargaining many collective agreements, fighting aggressive employer concessions and wining significant wage increases and improvements in working conditions.
Many of the workplaces Carla services are in female-dominated jobs that are more often undervalued and underpaid, such as hotels, credit unions, grocery stores and fish processing plants. Without a doubt, she continues to make a positive impact for these workers and their families.
She is also a key member of the USW Emergency Response Team (ERT) where she’s worked on many special cases including ones involving death by suicide and serious mental health issues, in Canada and the United States.
Carla is a strong believer in member-to-member education and giving all workers the skills, confidence and leadership, they need to advance their social and economic status in their workplaces and communities.
In 2024, Carla will take on her new role as the USW Area Coordinator for Atlantic Canada, the first ever woman to serve in the role. The promotion is a testament to her outstanding leadership and dedication to Steelworker members and to all workers in Atlantic Canada.
At the awards ceremony with Thibodeau were Sylvia Boyce (USW Department Leader for Health, Safety and the Environment), Ann Robichaud (USW Support Staff in Atlantic Canada) and Lily Chang (CLC Secretary-Treausrer).
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