The MNU's former Director of Negotiations was presented with an award for her contribution to the union and the growth of the federation of nurses.

Irene Giesbrecht, who retired from her position at MNU in 2008, was given the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions' Bread and Roses award at the recent CFNU convention in Vancouver.

Giesbrecht became a nurse in 1972 and was involved in the drive to organize the Grace Local in 1974. The next year, she became part of the bargaining committee for a round of negotiations that saw nurses get an increase of 30 to 36 per cent and a $500 signing bonus.

Later on, Giesbrecht became the vice-president of the provincial union then known as MONA. She ended her nursing career in 1978 to join the Manitoba Nurses' Union staff.

The Bread and Roses award was established in 1993 to honour CFNU members who have actively contributed to unionism on a provincial or national basis.