Remembering labour leader and activist Bill Chedore

It is with deep sadness that I must convey the news of the passing of Bill Chedore, former 1st National Vice-President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), lifelong leader and activist in the struggle for seniors and people with disabilities.

In 1983, Brother Chedore left his position as president of the Campbellton local and was elected as CUPW 1st National Vice-President. During the next four years, he helped lead the union through our first negotiations under the Canada Labour Code. In that round, CUPW made major breakthroughs in job security, rights for temporary workers, employer paid health, vision and dental benefits, pre-retirement leave, and night recovery leave. Brother Chedore also played a major role in the transformation of CUPW into a union which actively promoted human rights and international solidarity.  He was a strong advocate for the work of the South African Congress of Trade Unions Solidarity Committee which had its headquarters in the office of the CUPW Toronto Local.

In 1987, Bill left CUPW to take on a new role as National Coordinator for Education Services for the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). Later, as the CLC’s National Coordinator for Health and Safety and the Environment, he became a national spokesperson for the labour movement, demanding improved health and safety for federal sector workers. After his retirement from the CLC in 2010, he took on the position of National Coordinator of the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance.

Bill also was a lifelong champion for the rights and welfare of seniors and retired workers. To promote their interests, Bill took on the role of the National President of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC).

Throughout his extensive career, Brother Chedore consistently supported the struggles of CUPW and postal workers. In November 2018, during CUPW’s strike, he wrote to Prime Minister Trudeau to express the support of CURC for CUPW’s bargaining demands and the creation of new postal services such as postal banking. He stated, “Mr. Prime Minister, as a national senior’s organization we have looked into the issues and support CUPW in their efforts to negotiate a fair and decent collective agreement for their members.”

On behalf of CUPW’s members I extended our condolences to his wife Terrie and his family. With Brother Chedore’s passing we have lost a great friend, comrade and leader.

Jan Simpson has served as the National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers since 2019. This tribute first appeared on the Canadian Post Worker Union’s website on November 7.