Claude Jodoin
Encyclopedia
Claude Jodoin was a Canadian
trade unionist and politician. He served as the first president of the Canadian Labour Congress
from 1956 to 1966.
suburb of Westmount
, Jodoin was educated at Brebeuf College. In 1937 he became an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union serving as a Canadian manager of the union from 1947 to 1951.
, as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party, representing the Montreal-Saint-Jacques electoral district. He lost his seat in 1944 and was defeated in an attempt to regain a seat in the Legislature as an independent candidate in 1948. He had been leader of the Young Liberals of Canada
in 1939. He was offered a seat in the Canadian Senate
by Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
in 1956 but turned it down.
Despite his earlier involvement with the Liberal Party, Jodoin supported the decision by the Canadian Labour Congress to work with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
to found the New Democratic Party
in 1961. Speaking in 1960, he said "The Congress, and I as its president, believe that the need for a new party is greater today than it was even a year and a half ago. Speaking to the NDP's founding convention, Jodoin said "A labour movement that is without interest in political matters is a labour movement that is evading one of the most fundamental responsibilities."
Jodoin had served as president of the Montreal Trades and Labour Council and became president of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada
in 1954. He led the TLC in unity talks with the Canadian Congress of Labour
that lead to their merger, creating the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). In 1956, the year the CLC formally came into existence, he became its founding president. He won election five times as the Labour Congress' president, the last in 1966. In May 1967, he suffered a debilitating stroke, that forced him to step-down from day-to-day duties as the president. He would never recover from the stroke, and spent the rest of his years in an Ottawa hospital. Despite his disability, and as a sign of respect, he remained as president, though in title only, until his term was over. Donald MacDonald
became the acting president until he was elected to the position at the CLC's 1968 convention.
in its inaugural year, and the Centennial Medal that marked Canada's 100th birthday
. That same year, he received an honorary doctorate of law from the University of New Brunswick
. In 1972, he was named to the Labor Hall of Honor. On 1 March 1975, Jodoin finally succumbed to the medical complications brought on by his stroke. He was buried in Montreal three days later in Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery.
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...
trade unionist and politician. He served as the first 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 :...
from 1956 to 1966.
Background
Born in the MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
suburb of Westmount
Westmount, Quebec
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km²....
, Jodoin was educated at Brebeuf College. In 1937 he became an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union serving as a Canadian manager of the union from 1947 to 1951.
Political career
From 1940 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1954 he served as an alderman on Montreal City Council. He was elected in the 23 March 1942 by-election to the National Assembly of QuebecNational Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
, as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party, representing the Montreal-Saint-Jacques electoral district. He lost his seat in 1944 and was defeated in an attempt to regain a seat in the Legislature as an independent candidate in 1948. He had been leader of the Young Liberals of Canada
Young Liberals of Canada
The Young Liberals of Canada is the national youth wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. All members of the Liberal Party, who are aged 25 and under, are members of the Commission of the Young Liberals. The Young Liberals of Canada are the largest political youth organization in Canada...
in 1939. He was offered a seat in the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
by Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
Louis St. Laurent
Louis Stephen St. Laurent, PC, CC, QC , was the 12th Prime Minister of Canada from 15 November 1948, to 21 June 1957....
in 1956 but turned it down.
Despite his earlier involvement with the Liberal Party, Jodoin supported the decision by the Canadian Labour Congress to work with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
to found the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in 1961. Speaking in 1960, he said "The Congress, and I as its president, believe that the need for a new party is greater today than it was even a year and a half ago. Speaking to the NDP's founding convention, Jodoin said "A labour movement that is without interest in political matters is a labour movement that is evading one of the most fundamental responsibilities."
Union Activism
From 1944, Jodoin served as the first chair of the Trade and Labour Council of Canada's National Standing Committee on Racial Discrimination.Jodoin had served as president of the Montreal Trades and Labour Council and became president of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada
Trades and Labour Congress of Canada
The Trades and Labour Congress of Canada was a Canada-wide central federation of trade unions from 1883 to 1956. It was founded at the initiative of the Toronto Trades and Labour Council and the Knights of Labor...
in 1954. He led the TLC in unity talks with the Canadian Congress of Labour
Canadian Congress of Labour
The Canadian Congress of Labour was founded in 1940 and merged with Trades and Labour Congress of Canada to form the Canadian Labour Congress in 1956.-Founding:...
that lead to their merger, creating the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). In 1956, the year the CLC formally came into existence, he became its founding president. He won election five times as the Labour Congress' president, the last in 1966. In May 1967, he suffered a debilitating stroke, that forced him to step-down from day-to-day duties as the president. He would never recover from the stroke, and spent the rest of his years in an Ottawa hospital. Despite his disability, and as a sign of respect, he remained as president, though in title only, until his term was over. Donald MacDonald
Donald MacDonald (Nova Scotia politician)
Donald MacDonald, O.C., LL.D. was a Canadian social democratic politician and trade unionist who led the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and was elected as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1941...
became the acting president until he was elected to the position at the CLC's 1968 convention.
Honours
Near the end of his life, Jodoin received many awards in recognition for his union and political work. Most of the major honours came in 1967, when he was appointed to the Order of CanadaOrder 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...
in its inaugural year, and the Centennial Medal that marked Canada's 100th birthday
Canadian Centennial
The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...
. That same year, he received an honorary doctorate of law from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
. In 1972, he was named to the Labor Hall of Honor. On 1 March 1975, Jodoin finally succumbed to the medical complications brought on by his stroke. He was buried in Montreal three days later in Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery.