Editor’s Note: rabble.ca is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of influential labour activist Lynn Williams. Williams died on May 4, 2014. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fellow workers during this difficult time.
Lynn Williams was one of the most influential North American union leaders of the twentieth century. He was the first Canadian to become International President of the United Steelworkers, where he brought innovative leadership in bargaining and a structural readjustment of the North American steel industry during its most turbulent period, the 1980s and 1990s.
Even as a leader in the labour movement, Lynn was an activist and an organizer at heart, eager for the zest of a campaign, powered by workers coming together to make a difference in their own lives.
At the start of his career in the late 1940s, Lynn was drawn to the activism of the labour movement: âMy personal ambitions were focused on joining the labour movement, getting involved and being an activist⊠I simply wanted to be part of building⊠I was caught up in the idea of being part of the labour movement, of organizing people, of making a difference in peopleâs lives. That was what the labour movement was doing across the world in those years. Just the idea of being part of that was satisfying beyond belief or imagination.â
Lynn Williams is the United Steelworkers International President Emeritus, serving from 1983-93. During his presidency, he oversaw the establishment of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), to keep retired Steelworkers connected together and to their union and harnessing their energy for legislative and political action. He received the Order of Canada in 2005 for his dedicated and life-long activism.
More about Lynn Williams can be found in his memoir, One Day Longer.
Lynn Williamsâs life and career are progressive activism in action. The United Steelworkers union is proud to partner with rabble.ca to name the Activist Toolkit in his honour.
Lynn Williams demeure lâun des dirigeants syndicaux nord-amĂ©ricains les plus influents du vingtiĂšme siĂšcle. Il a Ă©tĂ© le premier Canadien Ă devenir prĂ©sident international du Syndicat des MĂ©tallos. Ă ce poste, Lynn a fait preuve dâun leadership novateur en matiĂšre de nĂ©gociation collective et il a jouĂ© un rĂŽle dĂ©terminant dans le rĂ©ajustement structurel de lâindustrie nordâamĂ©ricaine de lâacier au cours de sa plus turbulente pĂ©riode, les annĂ©es 80 et 90.
MĂȘme Ă titre de dirigeant au sein du mouvement ouvrier, et maintenant durant sa retraite, Lynn demeure un militant et un recruteur, impatient Ă la lueur dâune campagne optimisĂ©e par le regroupement de travailleurs dĂ©sirant changer leur propre vie.
Au dĂ©but de sa carriĂšre Ă la fin des annĂ©es 40, Lynn a Ă©tĂ© attirĂ© par le militantisme du mouvement ouvrier : «Jâavais comme principales ambitions de me joindre au mouvement ouvrier, dây participer et d’ĂȘtre un militant⊠Je voulais tout simplement contribuer Ă bĂątir⊠JâĂ©tais envahi par lâidĂ©e de faire partie du mouvement ouvrier, de recruter des gens, dâaider Ă changer leur vie. Câest ce que faisait le mouvement ouvrier partout dans le monde Ă cette Ă©poque. La simple idĂ©e dâen faire partie surpassait mes aspirations ou mon imagination.»
Lynn Williams est le prĂ©sident international Ă©mĂ©rite du Syndicat des MĂ©tallos; il a occupĂ© ce poste de 1983 Ă 1993. Au cours de sa prĂ©sidence, il a encadrĂ© lâĂ©tablissement de lâOrganisation des retraitĂ©s des MĂ©tallos (ORME), afin de veiller Ă ce que les MĂ©tallos retraitĂ©s maintiennent des liens entre eux et avec leur syndicat, et quâils exploitent leur Ă©nergie pour lâaction lĂ©gislative et politique.
La vie et la carriĂšre de Lynn Williams, câest le militantisme progressiste Ă lâĆuvre. Le Syndicat des MĂ©tallos est fier de sâassocier avec rabble.ca pour nommer la Trousse dâoutils pour militants en son honneur.