Cliff Pilkey, 1928 – 2012

UFCW Canada members are joining labour activists across the country in mourning the loss of former Ontario Federation of Labour president Cliff Pilkey who passed away on Saturday, November 17.

While working at General Motors in Oshawa, Pilkey became active in his union, UAW Local 222, where he eventually served as the Local’s president from 1957 to 1958.

His union involvement was soon followed by political activism in his home town of Oshawa as an elected alderman from 1963 to 1966. Brother Pilkey was also elected as the Ontario New Democratic Party MPP for the city of Oshawa in 1967. After his defeat in 1971, Pilkey returned to municipal politics to again serve as an alderman for the City of Oshawa from 1973 until his election as the president of the OFL in 1976.

During his tenure as OFL President, Pilkey fought for workers rights, particularly in the field of occupational health and safety, a fight that would eventually lead to the creation of the Ontario Workers Health and Safety Centre (WHSC).  Pilkey became the first president of the Centre in 1985, and upon his retirement as president of the OFL in 1986, he continued as the president of the WHSC until 2000 and then as president emeritus until 2009.

“Workers across the country have lost a strong advocate with the passing of Cliff Pilkey,” says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. “As an MPP he fought for workers rights and equal rights. His private member’s Bill in 1970 amended Ontario’s Human Rights legislation to protect women from discrimination based on gender or marital status for the basis of seniority. As the president of the OFL he fought tirelessly to ensure safer workplaces for Ontario workers resulting in the creation of the WHSC which now enjoys an international reputation as a leader in the field of workers health and safety.”

Pilkey is survived by his wife Viola, son Allan and daughter Jackie Zaika.