On March 12th, we came together at a special memorial in celebration of a friend, mentor, a giant of the international labour movement, and the longest-serving International President of the United Steelworkers (USW) union, Leo Gerard – a leader who dedicated his extraordinary life to the well-being of everyday, working people.
Leo became a Steelworker at 20 years old and a union steward at 22, followed by 52 years as a tireless and fearless activist who went from INCO's transportation department to the highest office of our International Union. From picket lines to board rooms, he bargained nose-to-nose with the heaviest hitters of the corporate world and lobbied the most powerful decision makers holding political office, intimidated by no one and without surrender. But what made Leo truly special was that he was never content with traditional tools of trade unionism.
His style of trade unionism got him thrown into jail during the Radio Shack strike of 1978. As Canadian National Director, he stood with workers, their families, and their communities affected by the Westray Mine disaster in 1992 and, because of his vision and relentless belief in our union, helped pass the Westray Bill in Canada, making it a criminal offense for companies to negligently kill their workers.
Of course, Leo’s vision was not limited to the bargaining table or the shop floor. He sought new capital strategies and new investment innovations to save and create jobs. He jumped into restructuring projects whenever and wherever Steelworker jobs were at stake, and his search for new initiatives resulted in many collaborations with other unions in North America and around the world, growing the Union in sectors well beyond metal and mining.
This commitment to working “in common cause” also meant alliances and partnerships with a range of other organizations, be they unions, environmental allies, and the movement for gender and racial justice. Leo believed in the power of politics to make workers’ lives better, and he ensured the Union’s capacity to fight for social justice was strong, and that he was ready and available to join the fray at home or abroad.
In Canada, this commitment to protecting jobs, building communities, and defending workers’ rights has been recognized far beyond the ranks of the labour movement. The University of Toronto’s Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources recently established a Chair in Leo’s name with the founding support of the University and the Steelworkers Union, and financial support from public figures, corporations, other unions, and civil society. The sheer number of supporters and their contributions, far in excess of the original fundraising goal, is a testament to Leo’s legacy.
Leo Gerard, as a notable Canadian, looms large in our Union and in Canadian history, receiving the Companion of the Order of Canada, our nation’s highest civilian honour, in 2023 for his “service to Canada and humanity at large.” But, like all great leaders, he recognized the power in supporting and nurturing the development of others. When I first ran for Director in District 3 in 1989, he gave me shrewd and careful advice whenever I needed it. He was a great teacher who led by example and, since then, an irreplaceable source of counsel, wisdom, and friendship.
Leo had a big heart, a big brain, a big laugh, and an even bigger spirit. He found joy in the life of the Steelworkers, and inspiration in the hard work being done every day by our rank-and-file members, by our stewards, grievance committees, bargaining teams, and health and safety champions.
He never forgot the people doing the hard work of trade unionism on the shop floor, or the examples of leadership left by Lloyd McBride, Lynn Williams, George Becker, and Tom Conway. He did his best to honour their legacies, and the best way we can honour Leo’s work and commitment – to workplace justice, equality, and a progressive, democratic future – is to ensure this work continues.