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IN MEMORIAM Lifelong labour activist, autoworker and Durham Region Labour Council President Jim Freeman finally lowered his union flag on Monday, April 4, when he passed away suddenly at home at age 61. “Jimmy’s principled passion and hearty laugh will be missed at rallies, marches and picket lines across the province,” said Chris Buckley, OFL President and former President of Unifor/CAW Local 222. “Jimmy was a go-to guy for anything and everything political. He showed progressive leadership that gave incredible profile to Ontario’s labour councils as hubs for regional organizing. His passing leaves a big hole in our hearts and in our movement.” “Jimmy gave incredible profile to Ontario’s labour councils as hubs for regional organizing. His passing leaves a big hole in our hearts and in our movement.” Chris Buckley, OFL President Jim was known for his easy-going attitude, loudly coloured Hawaiian shirts, and his commitment to community organizing. He grew up in Oshawa, where family life revolved around the auto industry. Jim’s grandfather started at General Motors in 1934, his father worked there for 40 years, and Jim followed in their footsteps. Over 30 years, he was a member of the United Auto Workers, Canadian Auto Workers, and the newly formed Unifor. Even after he retired 22 in 2013, he became active with the Local 222 retirees. The union was in his blood. Jim became a principal member of his union flying squad, and he later headed up the Political Education Committee. During the height of the Mike Harris attacks on workers’ rights and social programs, Jim was seconded to help organize the Kingston Days of Action, where he headed up advance work for a rally that drew tens of thousands to the streets. “Jim was a long-standing dedicated activist in our union. He would go to the wall to defend workers and demand change for social justice,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor President. “I always admired his forth right honesty, passion for politics, and active approach that helped make our union and the labour movement stronger.” Jim is perhaps best known for his decade-long run as the President of the Durham Region Labour Council, which he used as a platform for giving provincial and national profile to the role of labour councils. Jim used every opportunity to pave the way for young activists. Under Jim’s leadership, the Durham Region Labour Council became the first in Canada to create a Vice-President position for young workers and he later spearheaded an initiative to give every labour council an additional Ontario Federation of Labour convention credential that was dedicated for a young worker delegate. His strong leadership among Ontario’s labour councils got him elected to the Ontario Federation of Labour Executive Board in 2011 and he was elected to the Board of the Ontario Federation of Union Retirees in 2013. SPRING 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2 “Jim’s mentorship from my earliest days as a young worker has earned him a special place in my heart,” said Erin Harrison, CLC Ontario Regional Director. “He had a knack for looking into the eyes of young activists and seeing a potential we didn’t yet see in ourselves. It was a deeply felt commitment to growing the labour movement that never wavered.” During his “personal” time, Jim sat on the Board of the Durham United Way and the Durham Region Unemployment Help Centre. He also served on the executive of the provincial and federal NDP riding associations in Oshawa and he was involved in too many NDP campaigns to count. However, the electoral campaign he was no-doubt most proud of was the 2014 breakthrough victory of rookie NDP MPP Jennifer French in a long-time Tory riding. “Jim Freeman broadened our movement one personal connection at a time. He helped build a strong community of activists in Oshawa, by inspiring us to take care of each other, to work and to fight.” Jennifer French, NDP MPP for Oshawa “Jim Freeman broadened our movement one personal connection at a time. He helped build a strong community of activists in Oshawa, by inspiring us to take care of each other, to work and to fight,” said Jennifer French, NDP MPP for Oshawa. “He wanted to build a better world, and he