Our Canadian labour history has been shaped by many things, including headline strikes, landmark legislation, and the courage of individuals who fought for labour justice while facing racism, exclusion, and systemic barriers.
Black leaders in Canada have played important roles in helping to shape our labour movements, including expanding workers’ rights and pushing unions to become more equitable and inclusive. Their contributions continue to shape our workplaces, unions, and the labour culture of Ontario and even across the country.
Let’s take the time to recognize and honour these leaders during Black History Month so that we can ensure their legacy is not only remembered, but also carried forward.
Early Foundations: Resistance and Self-Determination
Before modern unions existed, Black labour in Canada was about resisting exploitation and exclusion. Even during periods when slavery was legal, Black workers challenged injustice and helped to lay the groundwork for future labour activism.
Key early contributions include:
- Thousands of Black people were forced to work without pay in New France and early British Canada, but many resisted and continued to fight for freedom and economic independence.
- Josiah Henson, who escaped enslavement, established the Dawn Settlement in Upper Canada. He also helped create one of Canada’s first trade and labour schools, which focused on education and advancement for formerly enslaved people.
- As industrial labour expanded in the early 20th century, Black trade workers continued to organize in the face of union exclusion.
Railway labour highlights:
- Black workers were banned from applying for skilled and higher-paying roles.
- In 1917, John A. Robinson, J.W. Barber, B.F. Jones, and P. White formed the Order of Sleeping Car Porters, the first Black railway union in North America.
- Their efforts later led to the removal of the “whites-only” clause from the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Employees, marking a significant step toward equity in union membership.
Breaking Barriers in Union Leadership
As unions grew across Canada, Black leaders worked to challenge discrimination for Black trade workers while also strengthening collective power for all workers. Their leadership helped expand who unions served and how they operated.
Notable leaders include:
- Fred Upshaw, the first Black trade unionist to lead a major Canadian union. As President of OPSEU from 1990 to 1995, he helped secure wage gains, strengthen human rights language in collective agreements, and advance the right to strike for public service workers in Ontario.
- Bromley Armstrong was a labour activist and civil rights leader who helped pave the way for stronger human rights protections, including the creation of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
- Yolanda McClean, a longtime CUPE leader and the first Black Canadian to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario. She has championed equity, leadership development, and anti-racism initiatives for Black trade workers within unions across the province.
Advancing Rights Beyond the Workplace
Black labour leaders often fought for justice both on and off the job, recognizing that workplace equity is deeply connected to broader social change.
Key contributions include:
- Stanley G. Grizzle, a labour activist and leader within the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, challenged racist workplace practices at Canadian railways and later advocated for equity through public service and government roles.
- James Calbert Best, a founding figure of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, helped shape public-sector labour advocacy that continues to affect thousands of workers today.
Black Women Leading Change in Labour
Black women have been instrumental in shaping labour movements, often advocating at the intersection of race, gender, and workers’ rights.
Important figures include:
- Violet King Henry, Canada’s first Black woman lawyer, who was also active in labour advocacy and union leadership at the local level.
- Jan Simpson, who became the first Black woman to lead a national union in Canada as President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
- Marie Clarke Walker, who served as CUPE Ontario’s Equity Vice-President and later held senior leadership roles within the Canadian Labour Congress.
Impact on Today’s Labour Movement
The efforts of Black labour leaders have had lasting effects on Black trade workers and how unions operate in Ontario today.
Their legacy includes:
- Stronger anti-discrimination and human rights language in collective agreements
- Increased focus on equity, inclusion, and access to leadership roles
- Greater recognition of systemic barriers faced by racialized workers in skilled trades and apprenticeship programs
For Ontario tradespeople and Black trade workers, this legacy supports safer and fairer workplaces across different sectors.
Why Recognition Matters
Taking time to recognize Black leaders in labour history during Black History Month is essential to understanding how Black trade workers’ rights were won and who helped secure them. Their stories remind us that progress in the labour movement has often come from those who were required to fight on multiple fronts, and that equity strengthens solidarity for all workers.
Ontario Resources and Further Reading
If you want to learn more or get involved, please explore the following resources:
- Ontario Federation of Labour: Equity initiatives and labour history resources
- CUPE Ontario: Black History Month and anti-racism education
- Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC): Moments in Canadian Black labour history
Recognizing and honouring these heroes will help ensure their contributions are remembered and their legacy continues to guide the labour movement forward. Join us on February 20 for our Black History Month celebration, as we honour Black labour leaders, share stories, and celebrate resilience, leadership, and community.
