38:
534:(CFAW) in Canada (for internal political reasons); however, in the United States UPWA ceased to exist as a brand, and its members became members of the AMCBW. Following the merger in Canada, the CFAW was led by the indefatigable Fred Dowling as its leader, and Mathieu serving as the obvious second-in-command and
370:. The experiences of the Great Depression had a profound impact on Mathieu, resulting in a paradigm shift for his worldview, political beliefs and associations. Soon thereafter, he abandoned his childhood affiliation to the Liberal Party, and, instead, embraced the emerging, and more radical, views of the
391:. The organizing drive was successful, and the new local union elected Mathieu as its full-time president.Mathieu soon made a name for himself in Quebec's labour circles, and rapidly gained a reputation for being a highly effective and, indeed, fierce union mobilizer. Before long, he became active in the
561:
for his role as "the former regional director and vice-president of the United Food and
Commercial Workers International Union and founder of the Fédération des Unions industrielles du Québec. In recognition of nearly a half century of hard work on behalf of his union brothers and sisters as a labour
458:
The FTQ/QFL was the result of the 1957 merger of the
Provincial Federation of Labour of Québec (PFLQ) and the Federation of Industrial Trade Unions of Québec (FITQ)/Fédération des unions industrielles du Québec (FUIQ), where Mathieu served as the secretary-general, and displayed tremendous leadership
399:
took special notice of
Mathieu and recommended him to lead the federation's nascent organizing strategy, and corresponding campaign, for packinghouse workers. Mathieu excelled at the challenge and helped create Montreal's first packinghouse workers' union, the Packinghouse Butchers and Allied Workers
513:
Firmly committed to his belief that political action and trade unionism were, and must be, interwoven, Mathieu is quoted as saying. "A worker is every bit a citizen too and the two can never be separated. It is sheer irresponsibility for unions to concern themselves with only work-place problems."
430:
became the standard across Canada, and ushered in a new era of higher living standards for generations of packinghouse workers. The system survived until the mid-1980s when Burns triggered a decade long period of brinkmanship and excessively hard bargaining that resulted in some of the largest and
565:
In appreciation for his role in creating the union – and the five decades of activism and commitment that helped make it possible – UFCW Local Unions in Canada, by way of the UFCW Canada national council, established an annual scholarship in
Mathieu's honour, which every year awards 18 $ 1,000
462:
As the FTQ's first secretary-general, Mathieu helped orient the new Quebec labour federation toward the more militant approach favoured by the industrial unions of the FITQ (i.e., in contrast to the less militant approach of the craft unions of the PFLQ). Unlike other labour federations in the
362:
Mathieu was born in
Montreal, Quebec, in 1917 and displayed a hunger for politics at an early age. Unlike most other boys in Quebec during this period, Mathieu demonstrated little to no interest in hockey or sports in general. Instead, he became a political animal and strove to be his uncle's
382:
One day in 1938, while taking a lunch break from his job in the credit department of a
Montreal store, a curious, young Romeo Mathieu dropped into a union meeting, and listened to an organizer from the garment workers. From then on his life was with the labour movement. His first project was
450:
Mathieu, in addition to crafting mergers within his own unions and sectors, played a key role in merging Quebec's labour federations. In particular, he made a significant contribution to the creation, expansion and development of the province's main labour body, the
548:
From 1979 until his retirement in 1983, Mathieu served the UFCW as an international vice-president, and as the director of region 18, which included all of the new union's
Canadian members who once belonged the Amalgamated Meat Cutters.
434:
Beyond the meat sector, Mathieu was often called upon by other unions or central labour federations to get the parties beyond impasse, including the nationwide postal strike in 1968, which was ultimately resolved by him after the
463:
province, the FTQ kept its distance from the
Maurice Duplessis government, took some militant stands – in keeping with its industrial tendencies – like the Murdochville Strike in 1957, and, eventually, supported the
452:
155:
527:
336:
100:
478:, where Romeo served on the executive council. From 1956 until his retirement in 1983, Mathieu served as a vocal and highly respected member of the CLC's executive board.
408:
Mathieu was a staunch supporter of the "One
Industry, One Union" movement and in 1946 he led the Packinghouse Butchers and Allied Workers Union toward a merger with the
542:
343:
423:, Burns, and Swift in 1947. The action further secured the master bargaining model that was achieved for packinghouse workers during the Second World War.
848:
858:
447:
Through the 1940s, dual federations and unions competed for affiliates and sectors, which thereby allowed employers to pit one union against another.
328:(1917 – April 1989) was a Canadian trade unionist, progressive political activist, and leading solidarity builder for the Quebec labour movement.
522:
In keeping with
Mathieu's lifelong commitment to the "One industry, one union" concept, he played a pivotal role in the merger between the
415:
Always keen to put the full might of the UPWA to the cause, Mathieu led the negotiating committee that struck the "big three" of Canada's
366:
He was educated at the Technical Institute of Montreal, where he learned mechanics and technical drawing, and graduated on the eve of the
791:
486:
In the political arena, and in the leading intellectual and social movements of his day, Mathieu joined other young activist – such as
863:
853:
350:
during the 1950s and 60s, and served as a formidable presence in advancing many of the province's social movements, including the
833:
388:
523:
409:
332:
538:. Upon Dowling's retirement in 1973, Mathieu became the leader of the CFAW, and, as such, the Canadian director of the AMCBW.
541:
Six years later, Mathieu, once again, played a defining role in yet another major merger. This time with the creation of the
431:
most violent strikes in Canadian history, and ultimately led to the end of pattern bargaining in the country's meat sector.
843:
392:
371:
276:
346:
in 1979. In addition to his outstanding contributions to the labour movement, Mathieu was a standing member of the Quebec
50:
531:
436:
104:
566:
scholarship prizes to UFCW Canada members or their children, toward post-secondary tuition and associated costs.
838:
280:
676:
475:
545:
in 1979, which, in Quebec, would have relied upon Romeo's very seasoned and sage hand leading the way.
335:(UPWA) into Quebec during the 1940s and '50s, and assisting with the merger between the UPWA and the
471:
765:
426:
The model won through Mathieu's negotiating prowess and the leadership of UPWA Canadian Director
416:
395:(TLC), eventually serving on the federation's executive during the mid-1940s. TLC president
828:
823:
464:
557:
On October 5, 1983, Mathieu became one of very few labour leaders to be invested into the
8:
400:
Union, which was chartered with the TLC. Mathieu served as the new union's first leader.
491:
499:
290:
503:
384:
125:
507:
367:
351:
558:
331:
Mathieu is best associated with his leading role in expanding the efforts of the
324:
194:
1st Secretary-General of the Fédération des unions industrielles du Québec (FUIQ)
72:
27:
487:
420:
396:
817:
698:
535:
495:
427:
363:
protege, who was a professional organizer for the Liberal Party of Canada.
137:
470:
Mathieu undoubtedly also played an important role in the creation of the
297:
37:
510:, which began in the 1960s and left an indelible impact on Quebec.
261:
244:
459:
in spearheading the effort to bring the two federations together.
631:
Freeman, Michael J. (April 1989). "Remembering Romeo Mathieu".
342:
He also made a significant contribution to the creation of the
265:
248:
528:
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America
337:
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America
101:
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America
739:. Chicago: Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen.
383:
organizing workers at the Dominion Engineering Works in
735:
Patrick E. Gorman, ed. (April 1975). "Canada Report".
543:
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
453:
Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
344:
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
156:
Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec
752:
Up from the ranks: trade union vip's past and present
722:
Up from the ranks: trade union vip's past and present
663:
Up from the ranks: trade union vip's past and present
648:
Up from the ranks: trade union vip's past and present
618:
Up from the ranks: trade union vip's past and present
603:
Up from the ranks: trade union vip's past and present
588:
Up from the ranks: trade union vip's past and present
403:
734:
498:, Philippe Vaillancourt, Jean-Paul Lefebvre, and
474:in 1956, following the merger of the TLC and the
377:
815:
442:
439:invited Romeo to act as their chief negotiator.
569:Romeo Mathieu died in Montreal in April, 1989.
635:. Toronto: United Food and Commercial Workers.
754:. Co-operative Press Associates. p. 79.
724:. Co-operative Press Associates. p. 79.
665:. Co-operative Press Associates. p. 79.
650:. Co-operative Press Associates. p. 79.
620:. Co-operative Press Associates. p. 79.
605:. Co-operative Press Associates. p. 79.
590:. Co-operative Press Associates. p. 79.
517:
849:Trades and Labor Congress of Canada people
36:
859:United Food and Commercial Workers people
455:(FTQ)/Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL).
467:of Canada, once it was founded in 1961.
792:"UFCW Canada – BDM Scholarship Program"
749:
719:
660:
645:
630:
615:
600:
585:
389:International Association of Machinists
816:
524:United Packinghouse Workers of America
410:United Packinghouse Workers of America
333:United Packinghouse Workers of America
393:Trades and Labour Congress of Canada
372:Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
277:Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
49:International Vice-President of the
481:
16:Canadian trade unionist (1917–1989)
13:
51:United Food and Commercial Workers
14:
875:
502:– in pushing for the fall of the
532:Canadian Food and Allied Workers
437:Canadian Union of Postal Workers
404:Master bargaining in meat sector
105:Canadian Food and Allied Workers
53:– Canadian Director of Region 18
864:Meat packing industry in Canada
854:Amalgamated Meat Cutters people
784:
758:
743:
728:
302:Technical Institute of Montreal
834:Members of the Order of Canada
713:
691:
669:
654:
639:
624:
609:
594:
579:
530:(AMCBW) in 1968, creating the
378:Packinghouse worker organizing
1:
572:
443:Building solidarity in Quebec
357:
154:1st Secretary-General of the
772:. Governor General of Canada
506:regime, and the rise of the
7:
844:Trade unionists from Quebec
699:"Roméo Mathieu 1917 - 1989"
679:. The Canadian Encyclopedia
476:Canadian Congress of Labour
10:
880:
552:
314:
306:
296:
286:
272:
255:
238:
233:
229:
219:
209:
198:
193:
183:
173:
162:
153:
143:
131:
121:
110:
99:Canadian Director of the
98:
88:
78:
68:
57:
48:
44:
35:
21:
750:Lazarus, Morden (1977).
720:Lazarus, Morden (1977).
677:"Union Centrals, Québec"
661:Lazarus, Morden (1977).
646:Lazarus, Morden (1977).
616:Lazarus, Morden (1977).
601:Lazarus, Morden (1977).
586:Lazarus, Morden (1977).
562:leader and negotiator."
518:Merging the food workers
472:Canadian Labour Congress
417:meat-packing industry
839:People from Montreal
465:New Democratic Party
281:New Democratic Party
215:Position established
179:Position established
84:Position established
737:The Butcher Workman
291:Huguette Plamondon
225:Position dissolved
149:Position dissolved
766:"Order of Canada"
504:Maurice Duplessis
385:Longueuil, Quebec
318:
317:
126:Patrick E. Gorman
871:
808:
807:
805:
803:
788:
782:
781:
779:
777:
762:
756:
755:
747:
741:
740:
732:
726:
725:
717:
711:
710:
708:
706:
695:
689:
688:
686:
684:
673:
667:
666:
658:
652:
651:
643:
637:
636:
628:
622:
621:
613:
607:
606:
598:
592:
591:
583:
508:Quiet Revolution
492:GĂ©rard Pelletier
482:Quiet Revolution
368:Great Depression
352:Quiet Revolution
327:
234:Personal details
222:
212:
203:
186:
176:
167:
146:
134:
115:
91:
81:
62:
40:
30:
19:
18:
879:
878:
874:
873:
872:
870:
869:
868:
814:
813:
812:
811:
801:
799:
790:
789:
785:
775:
773:
764:
763:
759:
748:
744:
733:
729:
718:
714:
704:
702:
697:
696:
692:
682:
680:
675:
674:
670:
659:
655:
644:
640:
629:
625:
614:
610:
599:
595:
584:
580:
575:
559:Order of Canada
555:
520:
484:
445:
406:
380:
360:
323:
279:
273:Political party
260:
243:
220:
210:
204:
199:
184:
174:
168:
163:
144:
132:
116:
111:
89:
79:
73:William H. Wynn
63:
58:
31:
26:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
877:
867:
866:
861:
856:
851:
846:
841:
836:
831:
826:
810:
809:
783:
757:
742:
727:
712:
690:
668:
653:
638:
623:
608:
593:
577:
576:
574:
571:
554:
551:
519:
516:
488:Pierre Trudeau
483:
480:
444:
441:
421:Canada Packers
405:
402:
397:Percy Bengough
379:
376:
359:
356:
348:intelligentsia
316:
315:
312:
311:
310:Trade unionist
308:
304:
303:
300:
294:
293:
288:
284:
283:
274:
270:
269:
257:
253:
252:
240:
236:
235:
231:
230:
227:
226:
223:
217:
216:
213:
207:
206:
196:
195:
191:
190:
187:
181:
180:
177:
171:
170:
160:
159:
151:
150:
147:
141:
140:
135:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
108:
107:
96:
95:
92:
86:
85:
82:
76:
75:
70:
66:
65:
55:
54:
46:
45:
42:
41:
33:
32:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
876:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
835:
832:
830:
827:
825:
822:
821:
819:
798:. UFCW Canada
797:
793:
787:
771:
767:
761:
753:
746:
738:
731:
723:
716:
700:
694:
678:
672:
664:
657:
649:
642:
634:
627:
619:
612:
604:
597:
589:
582:
578:
570:
567:
563:
560:
550:
546:
544:
539:
537:
536:heir apparent
533:
529:
525:
515:
511:
509:
505:
501:
500:René Lévesque
497:
496:Jean Marchand
493:
489:
479:
477:
473:
468:
466:
460:
456:
454:
448:
440:
438:
432:
429:
424:
422:
418:
413:
411:
401:
398:
394:
390:
386:
375:
373:
369:
364:
355:
353:
349:
345:
340:
338:
334:
329:
326:
322:
321:Romeo Mathieu
313:
309:
305:
301:
299:
295:
292:
289:
285:
282:
278:
275:
271:
267:
263:
258:
254:
250:
246:
241:
237:
232:
228:
224:
218:
214:
208:
202:
197:
192:
188:
182:
178:
172:
166:
161:
157:
152:
148:
142:
139:
136:
130:
127:
124:
120:
114:
109:
106:
102:
97:
93:
87:
83:
77:
74:
71:
67:
61:
56:
52:
47:
43:
39:
34:
29:
23:Romeo Mathieu
20:
800:. Retrieved
795:
786:
774:. Retrieved
769:
760:
751:
745:
736:
730:
721:
715:
703:. Retrieved
693:
681:. Retrieved
671:
662:
656:
647:
641:
632:
626:
617:
611:
602:
596:
587:
581:
568:
564:
556:
547:
540:
521:
512:
485:
469:
461:
457:
449:
446:
433:
428:Fred Dowling
425:
414:
407:
381:
365:
361:
347:
341:
330:
320:
319:
221:Succeeded by
200:
185:Succeeded by
164:
145:Succeeded by
138:Fred Dowling
112:
90:Succeeded by
59:
829:1989 deaths
824:1917 births
259:April, 1989
211:Preceded by
175:Preceded by
133:Preceded by
80:Preceded by
818:Categories
573:References
358:Early life
307:Occupation
298:Alma mater
94:Frank Benn
770:www.gg.ca
339:in 1968.
205:1952–1957
201:In office
169:1957–1963
165:In office
117:1972–1979
113:In office
69:President
64:1979–1983
60:In office
802:March 9,
776:March 9,
705:March 9,
683:March 9,
526:and the
412:(UPWA).
387:for the
268:, Canada
262:Montreal
251:, Canada
245:Montreal
796:ufcw.ca
374:(CCF).
189:unknown
633:Action
553:Awards
287:Spouse
266:Quebec
249:Quebec
122:Leader
701:. FTQ
158:(FTQ)
804:2018
778:2018
707:2018
685:2018
256:Died
242:1917
239:Born
820::
794:.
768:.
494:,
490:,
419::
354:.
325:CM
264:,
247:,
103:–
28:CM
806:.
780:.
709:.
687:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.