Quebec Director
Jean-Pierre Fortin
Biographical Sketch
Elected unanimously to the position of Quebec Director in August 2009, Jean-Pierre Fortin is an active union member with a long track record.
His involvement with the labour movement dates back to June 1973, when he was hired by United Aircraft. As early as 1974, he took an active part in the United Aircraft strike that lasted over 20 months. Since then, he has made his way up the union ranks.
Elected shop steward in 1978, he initiated a mobilization campaign in the wake of the strike, which cost him his job in March 1980. Upon returning to work in July 1981, he renewed his union activities, taking on the position of plant committee chairman. He was one of the founding members of the CAW Quebec Council.
In his capacity as a member of the National Executive Board, he has taken part in major union decisions, including the decision to leave the UAW in order to found CAW-Canada in 1985.
In April 1990, Jean-Pierre Fortin joined the ranks of the CAW as a service representative. Nine years later, he joined the Organizing Department. He became Area Director in July 2004, before finally assuming the office of Quebec Director in April 2008.
Jean-Pierre Fortin considers it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the members of a union such as the CAW. Members work hard to earn their living and a portion of their salary goes to our union. According to Jean-Pierre Fortin, in exchange, the CAW has a duty to offer these workers quality services, in keeping with the sacrifices they make. For these reasons, he intends to spare no effort to ensure that CAW members in Quebec can be proud to wear the colours of our union.
