Steelworkers union president Leo Gerard had a transformative approach to unionism

As a young smelter worker at Inco Ltd. in Sudbury, Ont., Leo Gerard once aspired to be an economics professor. Instead – unable to shake the image of silicosis-stricken miners he encountered as a child at the company clinic – Mr. Gerard embarked on a life of labour activism that propelled him to the helm of the United Steelworkers of America.

In addition to negotiating collective agreements, Mr. Gerard had a transformative approach to unionism that led him into corporate boardrooms to help restructure struggling companies in order to save jobs. He worked with governments in Canada and the United States to strengthen health and safety laws and frequently visited the White House to advocate for fair trade practices during his 18-year tenure as international president of the USW. Having grown up breathing sulphur fumes, Mr. Gerard was also a staunch environmentalist, partnering with the Sierra Club to promote the green economy.