New UFCW Local 832 President, Jeff Traeger (middle) with Beatrice Bruske and retiring President Robert Ziegler

Jeff Traeger was elected the new President of UFCW Canada Local 832 on October 24. Elected by the local union's executive board, Brother Traeger is the third full-time President in Local 832’s 73-year history. The former Secretary-Treasurer will replace retiring President Robert Ziegler, who was elected in 2002.

Executive assistant and negotiator Beatrice Bruske was elected as the local union’s new Secretary-Treasurer. Bruske is the first woman to be elected to the Secretary-Treasurer position in the Local’s history.

“When I was elected as President nine years ago, I pledged to strengthen our membership and ensured our local would be the voice of working people in our province. With the help of the staff and executive board, I’m proud of what we have accomplished together,” says Brother Ziegler.

A life-long activist, Brother Ziegler started with UFCW in 1977 working at Empress Foods (now Lucerne Bread) in Winnipeg and was hired as a servicing representative in 1979. After 32 years of service, Robert is looking forward to spending some time with his family.

"On behalf of UFCW Canada's 250,000 members, I want to thank Brother Ziegler for his many years of excellent service to strengthening the union and improving the lives of working families," says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. "I also want to congratulate Brother Traeger and Sister Bruske on being elected to build on Local 832’s very proud legacy of leadership and activism.”

As the new president of Local 832, Jeff Traeger stated at the announcement that his goal is to focus on the needs of the members, listen to their concerns and protect their gains in collective bargaining.