August 1, 2007

Life Membership Awarded to Ken Hawley

National President John MacLennan travelled to Sydney, NS, to present Ken Hawley with his long overdue life membership award. Ken was UNDE National President from 1983 to 1993.

In the late 1980’s, the union was hit with the first wave of base closures which included CFB Summerside, CFS Sydney, CFB Chatham and CFB Cornwallis, among others across the country. Up to 1,500 civilian workers were facing the loss of their jobs or relocation. While, on another front, the union was fighting an internal battle with the Canadian Labour Congress, the federations of labour and other unions, over the NDP-led push for Canada’s withdrawal from NATO. The aim of the broader labour movement was ultimately to do away with the armed forces.

These were two of the greater challenges facing the union at that time and Ken handled them deftly. UNDE managed to secure employment for every member affected by the downsizing who wanted to remain with the public service, and, at the same time, reach a compromise with the broader labour movement on peace issues—-no small feat at that time.

The National Executive of the Union of National Defence Employees felt it was high time the union officially recognized Ken’s contributions to the membership by awarding him UNDE’s highest honour.

Photos of presentation