One of the highest-profile labour positions in the province will have a new president this week, but today it was the outgoing president’s farewell speech.

Mary Shortall told the 300 delegates that her work is not finished yet.

Shortall, who hands over the reins on Wednesday, took the opportunity to lobby for better pay and conditions for all workers, and to scold employers who claim that there’s a worker shortage. She says low pay is the issue.

Shortall also went after the Furey government for the PERT Report, saying that the process exhibited nothing but contempt for workers. She resigned from the team, saying the process was flawed but indicated that she would have more to say when her confidentiality expires in a little under eight years from now.

The outgoing president, who took a stab at politics in St. John’s East during the last federal election. called the experience a “dress rehearsal” in which she learned a lot, a good indication that her next appearance will be on the political stage.