Bob Mackenzie, 1928 to 201

UFCW Canada members in Ontario were saddened to learn of the death of Bob Mackenzie, long-time union activist and Labour Minister in the 1990s Ontario NDP government.

Mackenzie was appointed labour minister when the NDP formed government in 1990 and was responsible for legislation that improved workers access to unionization, banned the use of replacement workers during strikes or lockouts, improved pay equity laws and gave agricultural workers in the province the right to join a union and bargain collectively.

“ Bob Mackenzie was not only the Minister of Labour, he was the Minister for Labour.” says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. “He was a true friend of UFCW Canada and an advocate for working men and women through the province. Although many of the labour reforms and laws Bob was responsible for were taken away by the Mike Harris Conservative government, UFCW Canada continues his struggle to improve the lives of agricultural workers and working families in Ontario and throughout Canada."