 Higgins got her start in politics when she became involved with the United Food and Commercial Workers union in 1982 while working at a Safeway grocery store.She later served as the President of the UFCW Manitoba Provincial Council from 1993 to 1999, during which period she also served as a table officer for the Moose Jaw & District Labour Council.She was first elected in the 1999 election and was re-elected in the 2003 and 2007 elections.