Lynn R. Williams
Encyclopedia
Lynn Russell Williams, OC
(born July 21, 1924) is a former American
(Canadian
-born) labour
leader that became a U.S.W.A. member in 1947 while employed by John Inglis Co. Local 2900 in Toronto Ontario and rose through the ranks to become International President of the United Steelworkers
(USW) from 1983 to 1994. He was the first Canadian to lead the international trade union
; headquarters in Pittsburgh PA.
In 1956, Lynn joined the Steelworkers staff and worked in Regina, Saskatchewan
, the Niagara Peninsula
and Toronto
. In 1973 Williams was elected District Director of USW District 6 (Ontario
) at that time in Canada, where he became close friends with George Becker
. He was elected secretary of the Steelworkers international union in 1977. He assumed the presidency after the unexpected death of USW President Lloyd McBride
in 1983. He ran for office in his own right in 1985 and won. As well, Lynn was the first person to have served, although not simultaneously, on both the Executive of the Canadian Labour Congress
(C.L.C.) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (A.F.L. - C.I.O.)
During the early 1990s, he represented organized labour on the Competitiveness Policy Council
where he advanced many proposals to promote better training and trade policies. Williams retired at the end of his term in 1994 and moved back home to Toronto Ontario Canada, where on May 7, 2007 a Toronto street has been dedicated and named in his honour. Lynn Williams has never forgotten his roots, and continues to remain active in the union as the national president of the Steelworkers’ Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), advancing causes related to social and labour related causes to this day.
Lynn Williams was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005.
Williams appeared on Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose" in the episode, "Who Protects the Worker?"
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...
(born July 21, 1924) is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(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...
-born) labour
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader that became a U.S.W.A. member in 1947 while employed by John Inglis Co. Local 2900 in Toronto Ontario and rose through the ranks to become International President of the United Steelworkers
United Steelworkers
The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union is the largest industrial labor union in North America, with 705,000 members. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, U.S., the United Steelworkers represents workers in the United...
(USW) from 1983 to 1994. He was the first Canadian to lead the international trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
; headquarters in Pittsburgh PA.
In 1956, Lynn joined the Steelworkers staff and worked in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, the Niagara Peninsula
Niagara Peninsula
The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Southern Ontario, Canada lying between the south shore of Lake Ontario and the north shore of Lake Erie. It stretches from the Niagara River in the east to Hamilton, Ontario in the west. The population of the peninsula is roughly 1,000,000 people...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In 1973 Williams was elected District Director of USW District 6 (Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) at that time in Canada, where he became close friends with George Becker
George Becker
George Becker was a steelworker, American labor leader and president of the United Steelworkers from 1993 to 2001. During his tenure as president of the Steelworkers, Becker also served as a vice president of the AFL-CIO.-Early life:Becker was born in 1928 in Madison, Illinois, to George and...
. He was elected secretary of the Steelworkers international union in 1977. He assumed the presidency after the unexpected death of USW President Lloyd McBride
Lloyd McBride
Lloyd McBride was an American labor leader and president of the United Steelworkers of America from 1977 to 1983.-Early life and union work:...
in 1983. He ran for office in his own right in 1985 and won. As well, Lynn was the first person to have served, although not simultaneously, on both the Executive 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 :...
(C.L.C.) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (A.F.L. - C.I.O.)
During the early 1990s, he represented organized labour on the Competitiveness Policy Council
Competitiveness Policy Council
The Competitiveness Policy Council was an independent federal advisory committee chartered in 1988 to advise the President and the Congress on more effective policies to promote U.S. competitiveness...
where he advanced many proposals to promote better training and trade policies. Williams retired at the end of his term in 1994 and moved back home to Toronto Ontario Canada, where on May 7, 2007 a Toronto street has been dedicated and named in his honour. Lynn Williams has never forgotten his roots, and continues to remain active in the union as the national president of the Steelworkers’ Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), advancing causes related to social and labour related causes to this day.
Lynn Williams was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005.
Williams appeared on Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose" in the episode, "Who Protects the Worker?"