Jeff Rose
Encyclopedia
Jeff Rose is a Canadian trade unionist and former public servant. He is national president emeritus of the Canadian Union of Public Employees
, having served as national president of CUPE from 1983–1991, and was deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs for the government of Ontario from 1991-1995.
Rose began his career as a city planner in the City of Toronto and in 1976 became active with his local union, CUPE Local 79, which represents City of Toronto inside workers. In 1980 he was elected president of Local 79 and in the next two years negotiated collective agreements containing across-the-board wage increases that totaled 26.5%. These bargaining achievements,
and campaigns around working conditions and short-staffing in homes for the aged and around waste disposal and landfill in Toronto that he conducted for Local 79, brought him to the attention of CUPE locals on a national scale. In 1983, with rank-and-file support from a wide spectrum of locals, Rose ran from the floor of the CUPE national convention and was elected national president, succeeding Grace Hartman.
Rose’s years as national president of CUPE were marked by national membership growth from 294,000 members to 407,000 members (largely through organizing); a strengthening of CUPE’s infrastructure, staff capabilities, and rank-and-file skills; and his outspoken opposition to Brian Mulroney
-era wage restraint, free trade
, the GST
, privatization
, deregulation
, and cuts to public services. Under Rose’s leadership CUPE was particularly effective in improving pay and working conditions for women.
In 1991 Rose declined to run for a fifth term and was appointed deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs in the Ontario New Democratic Party
government of Bob Rae
. He was named national president emeritus of CUPE and was succeeded by Judy Darcy. As deputy minister Rose was the lead negotiator and senior policy strategist for Ontario in its relations with the federal government and with the other provincial governments.
He held the position until 1995, when he moved to the University of Toronto and was named a senior fellow on conflict management and negotiation. He retired in 2002. The same year, Rose co-signed an open letter with lawyer Clayton Ruby
and physician Philip Berger calling on their fellow leftists to denounce the anti-semitism of “an increasingly vocal part” of the Canadian left.
Canadian Union of Public Employees
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is a Canadian trade union serving the public sector - although it has in recent years organized workplaces in the non-profit and para-public sector as well...
, having served as national president of CUPE from 1983–1991, and was deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs for the government of Ontario from 1991-1995.
Rose began his career as a city planner in the City of Toronto and in 1976 became active with his local union, CUPE Local 79, which represents City of Toronto inside workers. In 1980 he was elected president of Local 79 and in the next two years negotiated collective agreements containing across-the-board wage increases that totaled 26.5%. These bargaining achievements,
and campaigns around working conditions and short-staffing in homes for the aged and around waste disposal and landfill in Toronto that he conducted for Local 79, brought him to the attention of CUPE locals on a national scale. In 1983, with rank-and-file support from a wide spectrum of locals, Rose ran from the floor of the CUPE national convention and was elected national president, succeeding Grace Hartman.
Rose’s years as national president of CUPE were marked by national membership growth from 294,000 members to 407,000 members (largely through organizing); a strengthening of CUPE’s infrastructure, staff capabilities, and rank-and-file skills; and his outspoken opposition to Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
-era wage restraint, free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
, the GST
Goods and Services Tax (Canada)
The Goods and Services Tax is a multi-level value added tax introduced in Canada on January 1, 1991, by then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his finance minister Michael Wilson. The GST replaced a hidden 13.5% Manufacturers' Sales Tax ; Mulroney claimed the GST was implemented because the MST...
, privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
, deregulation
Deregulation
Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
, and cuts to public services. Under Rose’s leadership CUPE was particularly effective in improving pay and working conditions for women.
In 1991 Rose declined to run for a fifth term and was appointed deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs in the Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
government of Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
. He was named national president emeritus of CUPE and was succeeded by Judy Darcy. As deputy minister Rose was the lead negotiator and senior policy strategist for Ontario in its relations with the federal government and with the other provincial governments.
He held the position until 1995, when he moved to the University of Toronto and was named a senior fellow on conflict management and negotiation. He retired in 2002. The same year, Rose co-signed an open letter with lawyer Clayton Ruby
Clayton Ruby
Clayton Charles Ruby, CM, QC is a Canadian lawyer, specializing in constitutional and criminal law and civil rights. He is one of the most famous lawyers in Canada at present, having served as a defence lawyer in a number of high-profile cases....
and physician Philip Berger calling on their fellow leftists to denounce the anti-semitism of “an increasingly vocal part” of the Canadian left.