A Career of Building Equity and Justice | HR25

When we are able to fulfill our life’s purpose, in this case helping ensure that people’s voices were heard, inequities were addressed and choice was actioned, as part of the responsibilities of what we are paid to do, we tend to infuse really positive stuff onto those we work with. I was one of the lucky ones provided the opportunity at an early point in my own career to work with such an individual – Bill Howes.

Bill is someone who through every action and every word he spoke, exuded leadership, alignment with core values and passion for what he did. He knew what he was good at. He built leaders along the way. And he has continued to make a positive difference in his retirement activities. Bill spent most of his career working for and with unions, as a paid employee within those organizations. It might be something for you to consider too. Our unions need great leaders too. Hope you will join us!

About the Guest:

Bill Howes is a native Torontonian. He went to school in Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute, and at nineteen he started working at Northern Electric in Bramalea, Ontario.

Bill got involved with organizing for the United Electrical Workers while working at that plant. Shortly after, he moved into the office part of Northern Electric, which had a company association. He became active and one of the leaders of a strike by Northern Electric office workers in 1966, the first successful strike ever at Northern.

Coming out of the strike, the association members realized they needed a legitimate union, and Howes was on the committee that interviewed all of the unions with a connection to telecom. They chose the United Auto Workers (UAW). Bill became involved in organizing with the UAW and was active in that local for several years.

Bill left Northern in 1972 and went to work with the Canadian Labour Congress (the umbrella organization for many of Canada’s unions) to organize white-collar workers. He organized the first chapter of the Association of Commercial and Technical Employees (ACTE).

Knowing his background in organizing telecom, the Communications Workers of Canada (CWC) asked that Bill be put on loan from the CLC for its organizing drive. The CWC eventually hired him, making him National Representative responsible for organizing in Ontario in 1974. Bill focused on a variety of organizing campaigns through his years with the CWC, primarily with office, technical and operator units across the nation. He also taught seminars on organizing.

In 1989 he left the organization which, through several amalgamations over the years had now become the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers’ Union, to accept the position of Executive Assistant to the President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council and the responsibility of being the labour link to social justice movements.

Bill left the Labour Council in 2000 to establish Organizing Resources, providing consulting services to unions conducing organizing campaigns. In his “retirement” he also co-founded Not Just Tourists and has worked tirelessly on behalf of feral cats in the Greater Toronto Area – more on these in the podcast!

*With appreciation to Joan Roberts and her overview of Bill in her excellent book Cracked: How Telephone Operators Took on Canada’s Largest Corporation… and Won!

If you wish to contact Bill, he can be reached at bill.howes43@gmail.com

The website for the Toronto and Yukon Region Labour Council is Toronto & York Region Labour Council

The book referred to in the podcast is Cracked: How Telephone Operators Took on Canada’s Largest Corporation… and Won! by author Joan Roberts

About the Host:

Susan has worked with people all her life. As a human resource professional, she has specialized in all aspects of employment, from hiring to retirement. She got her start as a national representative for a large Canadian union. After pursuing an undergrad degree in business administration, Susan transitioned to HR management, where she aspired to bring both employee and management perspectives to her work. She retired from her multi-decade career in HR to pursue writing, coaching and consulting, and to be able, in her words, to “colour outside the lines.” She promises some fun and lots of learning through this podcast series.

Susan is also the author of Leadership Inside Out: Effecting Change from Within. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Training.

If you wish to contact Susan, she can be reached through any of the following:

Website: https://www.effectingchangefromwithin.com

Email: susangney@gmail.com

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-ney-197494

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.ney.5/

Book: Leadership Inside Out: Effecting Change from Within – on Amazon

The On-line course “Clarity and Choices”

Currently being developed. If you are interested in learning more, connect with Susan at susangney@gmail.com

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