He completed his Grade 12, was a maintenance worker and embalmer in the 1970s, and served as a postal clerk in the Department of Government Services before being chosen as MGEU president.
[4] In 1997, Olfert endorsed a provincial deal to end the Filmon government's policy of wage freezes and unpaid days off.
[5] In the same period, he worked in a successful battle to extend employee benefits to same-sex couples.
Olfert's union accepted a deal to allow for optional unpaid leave days in 2002,[7] though he has nonetheless engaged in several difficult negotiations with the Doer government.
[10] Shortly thereafter, he said that he was shocked by reports of lavish overspending by officers, and added that he had not always been given accurate information about the fund.