Ken Georgetti
Encyclopedia
Kenneth V. Georgetti, CM
, OBC
(born 1952, Trail, British Columbia
) is a Canadian
labour union leader. He was elected president of the Canadian Labour Congress
in May 1999.
, home to Canada's most polarized politics and of a vibrant labour movement. Born in Trail, in the southern interior of the province, Georgetti first went to work in the giant Cominco smelter, just like his father. He worked in most areas of the smelter and earned his trade ticket as a pipefitter. Following the family tradition, Georgetti became active in the United Steelworkers of America Local 480, rising through the ranks to President of the Local in 1981.
Elected Vice-President of the British Columbia Federation of Labour
in 1984, he became its youngest-ever President two years later. At the same time, he broadened his national labour involvement by becoming a Provincial Vice-President of the CLC. During his 13 years as President of the "B.C. Fed", he oversaw the Federation's rapid expansion, with membership growing from 218,000 to more than 450,000.
government.
Georgetti has also encouraged labour to take active control of union pension plans and began a number of successful, socially responsible investment initiatives. He has used the traditional investor structure at annual general meetings to push corporations to assume social responsibility and implement codes of conduct based on respect for workers' rights and protection of the environment.
Georgetti is also involved in international issues, continuing a long CLC tradition. He served as a Vice-President and member of the Executive Board of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
before it merged with World Confederation of Labour
, and was a member of its Human and Workers' Rights Committee. He is currently a Vice-President and member of the Executive Board of the International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC), and the chair of the ITUC Committee on Workers' Capital. He is also an executive member of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD).
. In 2000, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
– only the tenth labour leader to be so honoured.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(born 1952, Trail, British Columbia
Trail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
labour union leader. He was elected president of the Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Labour Congress
The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
in May 1999.
Trade Union career
Georgetti arrived at the head of the Canadian Labour Congress after a quarter century of union activism in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, home to Canada's most polarized politics and of a vibrant labour movement. Born in Trail, in the southern interior of the province, Georgetti first went to work in the giant Cominco smelter, just like his father. He worked in most areas of the smelter and earned his trade ticket as a pipefitter. Following the family tradition, Georgetti became active in the United Steelworkers of America Local 480, rising through the ranks to President of the Local in 1981.
Elected Vice-President of the British Columbia Federation of Labour
British Columbia Federation of Labour
British Columbia Federation of Labour is the voice of the Labour movement in British Columbia, Canada.Founded in 1910 and now having over 470,000 individual members and 1100 locals or union sections, the BC Federation of Labour is the provincial Canadian Labour Congress affiliate and the umbrella...
in 1984, he became its youngest-ever President two years later. At the same time, he broadened his national labour involvement by becoming a Provincial Vice-President of the CLC. During his 13 years as President of the "B.C. Fed", he oversaw the Federation's rapid expansion, with membership growing from 218,000 to more than 450,000.
Strategies
Georgetti has long advocated what he describes as "intelligent militancy". This proactive approach makes use of a wide range of strategies and tactics to achieve labour's goals. For example, as B.C. Fed President, Georgetti in 1987 led unionized workers in British Columbia in the largest one-day general strike in Canadian history, followed by a successful five-year boycott to protest labour laws and institutions established by the then Social CreditSocial Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
government.
Georgetti has also encouraged labour to take active control of union pension plans and began a number of successful, socially responsible investment initiatives. He has used the traditional investor structure at annual general meetings to push corporations to assume social responsibility and implement codes of conduct based on respect for workers' rights and protection of the environment.
CLC goals
Georgetti's priorities as the leadership of the Canadian Labour Congress include the defence and strengthening of public medicare, organizing greater numbers of workers, providing life long learning opportunities, enhancing youth's involvement in unions, increasing literacy levels for all Canadians and combating child labour. Promotion of labour rights and protection of employment standards in an increasingly globalized economy, and international development that respects workers' and human rights, are also key priorities. Under Georgetti's leadership, the CLC has spearheaded worldwide campaigns against corporate globalization, sweatshop manufacturers and the use of child and forced labour.Georgetti is also involved in international issues, continuing a long CLC tradition. He served as a Vice-President and member of the Executive Board of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was an international trade union. It came into being on 7 December 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions , and was dissolved on 31 October 2006 when it merged with the World Confederation of Labour to form the...
before it merged with World Confederation of Labour
World Confederation of Labour
The World Confederation of Labour was an international labour organization founded in 1920 and based in Europe. Totalitarian governments of the 1930s repressed the federation and imprisoned many of its leaders, limiting operations until the end of World War II...
, and was a member of its Human and Workers' Rights Committee. He is currently a Vice-President and member of the Executive Board of the International Trade Union Confederation
International Trade Union Confederation
The International Trade Union Confederation is the world's largest trade union federation. It was formed on November 1, 2006 out of the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour...
(ITUC), and the chair of the ITUC Committee on Workers' Capital. He is also an executive member of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
(OECD).
Awards
Georgetti has been recognized by various levels of government for his contributions to labour relations and the overall well-being of Canadian society. In 1998, he became the first union leader to receive the distinguished Order of British ColumbiaOrder of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
. In 2000, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
– only the tenth labour leader to be so honoured.
External links
- http://www.canadianlabour.ca/about-clc/officers/ken-georgetti Ken Georgetti biography