Willie Lambert
Encyclopedia
Willie Lambert is a union
leader and politician
in Oakville, Ontario
, Canada
. In the spring and summer of 2006, he challenged longstanding incumbent Buzz Hargrove
for the presidency of the Canadian Auto Workers
(CAW) union. However, on August 16, 2006, Lambert withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Hargrove's reelection, one day before CAW convention delegates were scheduled to vote.
Lambert is a bus driver employed by Oakville Transit
. He is a member of the Canadian Auto Workers union and has served as chairman of his bargaining unit within CAW Local 1256 since 1990. He has also served as president of the Oakville & District Labour Council
since 1995.
In 1999, Lambert challenged incumbent Wayne Samuelson for the presidency of the Ontario Federation of Labour
. He was defeated, but won the support of over 40% of voting delegates at that organization's biennial convention. Lambert ran against Samuelson a second time in 2002, but was defeated again.
Lambert represented the New Democratic Party
(NDP) as a candidate for Member of Parliament for the riding of Oakville
in the 1993
, 1997
and 2000 federal elections
. He also represented the Ontario NDP
as a candidate for Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Oakville South in the 1995 provincial election
.
. Also that month, the CAW's former chief economist
Sam Gindin
raised a series of questions about the political, electoral and bargaining orientation of the CAW in an open letter addressed to Hargrove. That letter, Hargrove's response and Gindin's response to Hargrove were posted on the Canadian political website rabble
. Gindin later published several other articles critical of Hargrove in other publications.
On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, Lambert addressed a meeting of the Oakville NDP riding association, and announced that if elected CAW president, he would "try to re-mend fences" between the CAW and the NDP. The relationship between the CAW and the NDP was severed after Hargrove, as president of the union, failed to wholeheartedly back the NDP in the 2006 federal election
, instead endorsing re-election of the Liberal
minority government
then in power. The NDP subsequently suspended Hargrove's party membership, and the CAW retaliated by withdrawing all union support from the party.
On Monday, May 22, 2006, Lambert joined the picket line of striking
auto parts workers at A.G. Simpson in Oshawa, Ontario
. Hargrove characterized the dispute as a "wildcat" (unauthorized) strike and criticized the workers involved, describing the situation as a "powder keg" that threatened other auto workers jobs. Lambert, however, fully supported the workers and condemned Hargrove's conduct in an open letter released on the same day that he picketed with the workers. The labour dispute was successfully resolved on May 25, 2006, although the workers involved remained critical of Hargrove and the National CAW's interventions.
On June 22, 2006, the executive committee of Lambert's CAW Local 1256 adopted a motion to reconsider its support for Lambert's campaign and lend support instead to Lambert's rival, Hargrove. Lambert alleged that the local executive took this action at the prompting of Hargrove's executive assistant, Hemi Mitic, who allegedly threatened to dissolve Local 1256 and merge it into the larger CAW Local 707. Both Mitic and the local union president, James MacKenzie, denied this allegation. The motion to reconsider support for Lambert was overwhelmingly defeated by the general membership of Local 1256 on July 9, 2006, confirming that Local 1256 continued to support Lambert.
In an interview with CanWest News Service
reporter Deidre McMurdy, published in the Ottawa Citizen
on July 25, 2006, Lambert admitted he faced steep odds to win the presidency. He also expressed his concerns about the lack of internal democracy in the CAW. "Buzz Hargrove has quite a machine at his disposal, and that kind of entrenched power is really hard to fight. A lot of people have a lot at stake with the status quo," Lambert said. "Buzz says he welcomes the debate and the challenge, but there's been quite a bit of pressure exerted from the administration to shut me out wherever possible. Even in my own local it's been a problem for me." Lambert proposed that the CAW switch to a one member, one vote
leadership selection process in the future, instead of a delegated convention process as is currently being used. Lambert also proposed that the CAW adopt other measures to increase grassroots membership participation in the union and reduce the "space" that exists between the union leadership and the rank-and-file.
The CAW's Constitutional Convention, at which the leadership election was scheduled to occur, took place Tuesday, August 15 through Friday, August 18 at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
in Vancouver, British Columbia
. Delegates were scheduled to vote for CAW executive officers on Thursday, August 17. However, on Wednesday, August 16, Lambert withdrew his candidacy for CAW president, leaving Hargrove unopposed. Hargrove was then acclaimed for his sixth term as CAW president the next day. Lambert later indicated the reason for his withdrawal was that he was unable to secure a nomination from a registered delegate present at the convention.
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 and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Oakville, Ontario
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
, Canada
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...
. In the spring and summer of 2006, he challenged longstanding incumbent Buzz Hargrove
Buzz Hargrove
Basil Eldon "Buzz" Hargrove, OC is the former National President of the Canadian Auto Workers trade union...
for the presidency of the Canadian Auto Workers
Canadian Auto Workers
The Canadian Auto Workers is one of Canada's largest and highest profile social unions. While rooted in Ontario's large auto plants of Windsor, Brampton, Oakville, St...
(CAW) union. However, on August 16, 2006, Lambert withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Hargrove's reelection, one day before CAW convention delegates were scheduled to vote.
Lambert is a bus driver employed by Oakville Transit
Oakville Transit
Oakville Transit is the public transportation provider in Oakville, Ontario, Canada since 1972. It is a department of the town, and a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. It offers the typical conventional bus service, and a para-transit service, called care-A-van, for those unable to...
. He is a member of the Canadian Auto Workers union and has served as chairman of his bargaining unit within CAW Local 1256 since 1990. He has also served as president of the Oakville & District Labour Council
Labour council
A labour council, trades council or industrial council is an association of labour unions or union branches in a given area. Most commonly, they represent unions in a given geographical area, whether at the district, city, region, or provincial or state level...
since 1995.
In 1999, Lambert challenged incumbent Wayne Samuelson for the presidency of the Ontario Federation of Labour
Ontario Federation of Labour
The Ontario Federation of Labour is a prominent federation of labour unions in the Canadian province of Ontario. The original OFL was established by the Canadian Congress of Labour in 1944...
. He was defeated, but won the support of over 40% of voting delegates at that organization's biennial convention. Lambert ran against Samuelson a second time in 2002, but was defeated again.
Lambert represented 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...
(NDP) as a candidate for Member of Parliament for the riding of Oakville
Oakville (electoral district)
Oakville is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.-History:It was created in 1996 from parts of Halton and Oakville—Milton ridings....
in the 1993
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
, 1997
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
and 2000 federal elections
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
. He also represented the Ontario NDP
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...
as a candidate for Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Oakville South in the 1995 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
.
Campaign for presidency of CAW
Lambert announced his candidacy on Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at a news conference in Oakville. Rumours of an opposition challenge to incumbent president Hargrove had been circulating for at least several months prior, however, as reported in a February article in the Canadian newsmagazine Maclean'sMaclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
. Also that month, the CAW's former chief economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
Sam Gindin
Sam Gindin
Sam Gindin is a Canadian academic and intellectual who served as research director of the Canadian region of the United Auto Workers union and later as chief economist and Assistant to the President of the Canadian Auto Workers union after the latter became independent from its American parent...
raised a series of questions about the political, electoral and bargaining orientation of the CAW in an open letter addressed to Hargrove. That letter, Hargrove's response and Gindin's response to Hargrove were posted on the Canadian political website rabble
Rabble
rabble.ca is a Canadian website. Among other services, it publishes journalism on a daily basis, primarily relating to social justice and progressive politics...
. Gindin later published several other articles critical of Hargrove in other publications.
On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, Lambert addressed a meeting of the Oakville NDP riding association, and announced that if elected CAW president, he would "try to re-mend fences" between the CAW and the NDP. The relationship between the CAW and the NDP was severed after Hargrove, as president of the union, failed to wholeheartedly back the NDP in the 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, instead endorsing re-election of the Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
then in power. The NDP subsequently suspended Hargrove's party membership, and the CAW retaliated by withdrawing all union support from the party.
On Monday, May 22, 2006, Lambert joined the picket line of striking
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
auto parts workers at A.G. Simpson in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
. Hargrove characterized the dispute as a "wildcat" (unauthorized) strike and criticized the workers involved, describing the situation as a "powder keg" that threatened other auto workers jobs. Lambert, however, fully supported the workers and condemned Hargrove's conduct in an open letter released on the same day that he picketed with the workers. The labour dispute was successfully resolved on May 25, 2006, although the workers involved remained critical of Hargrove and the National CAW's interventions.
On June 22, 2006, the executive committee of Lambert's CAW Local 1256 adopted a motion to reconsider its support for Lambert's campaign and lend support instead to Lambert's rival, Hargrove. Lambert alleged that the local executive took this action at the prompting of Hargrove's executive assistant, Hemi Mitic, who allegedly threatened to dissolve Local 1256 and merge it into the larger CAW Local 707. Both Mitic and the local union president, James MacKenzie, denied this allegation. The motion to reconsider support for Lambert was overwhelmingly defeated by the general membership of Local 1256 on July 9, 2006, confirming that Local 1256 continued to support Lambert.
In an interview with CanWest News Service
CanWest News Service
Postmedia News is a national news agency with correspondents in Canada, Europe, and the United States and is part of the Canadian newspaper chain owned by Postmedia Network Inc.-History:...
reporter Deidre McMurdy, published in the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
on July 25, 2006, Lambert admitted he faced steep odds to win the presidency. He also expressed his concerns about the lack of internal democracy in the CAW. "Buzz Hargrove has quite a machine at his disposal, and that kind of entrenched power is really hard to fight. A lot of people have a lot at stake with the status quo," Lambert said. "Buzz says he welcomes the debate and the challenge, but there's been quite a bit of pressure exerted from the administration to shut me out wherever possible. Even in my own local it's been a problem for me." Lambert proposed that the CAW switch to a one member, one vote
OMOV
"One man, one vote" is a slogan that has been used in many parts of the world where campaigns have arisen for universal suffrage. It became particularly prevalent in less developed countries, during the period of decolonisation and the struggles for national sovereignty from the late 1940s onwards...
leadership selection process in the future, instead of a delegated convention process as is currently being used. Lambert also proposed that the CAW adopt other measures to increase grassroots membership participation in the union and reduce the "space" that exists between the union leadership and the rank-and-file.
The CAW's Constitutional Convention, at which the leadership election was scheduled to occur, took place Tuesday, August 15 through Friday, August 18 at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
The Vancouver Convention Centre , is a convention centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; it is one of Canada's largest convention centres. With the opening of the new West Building in 2009, it now has 466,500 ft² of meeting space...
in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Delegates were scheduled to vote for CAW executive officers on Thursday, August 17. However, on Wednesday, August 16, Lambert withdrew his candidacy for CAW president, leaving Hargrove unopposed. Hargrove was then acclaimed for his sixth term as CAW president the next day. Lambert later indicated the reason for his withdrawal was that he was unable to secure a nomination from a registered delegate present at the convention.