Article

Charles Hibbert Millard

Published Online January 24, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Charles Hibbert Millard, labour leader (b at St Thomas, Ont 25 Aug 1896; d at Toronto 24 Nov 1978). Originally a carpenter by trade, Millard helped organize United Auto Workers Local 222, which he led in the historic 1937 OSHAWA STRIKE. From 1938 to 1939 he was Canadian UAW director.

Millard, Charles Hibbert

Charles Hibbert Millard, labour leader (b at St Thomas, Ont 25 Aug 1896; d at Toronto 24 Nov 1978). Originally a carpenter by trade, Millard helped organize United Auto Workers Local 222, which he led in the historic 1937 OSHAWA STRIKE. From 1938 to 1939 he was Canadian UAW director. Between 1940 and 1943 he was on the executive of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), the CANADIAN CONGRESS OF LABOUR (CCL), the United Steelworkers of America, and the Packinghouse Workers' organizing committee. Millard helped negotiate the merger of the 2 labour congresses and was elected VP of the CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS at its founding convention (1956). In 1956 he also became director of organization for the Confederation of Free Trade Unions in Brussels. A staunch CCF supporter, he was elected to the Ontario legislature twice (1943, 1948). He also ran unsuccessfully for Parliament several times. In 1961, he supported labour's participation in the formation of the NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY.