Article

Claude Jodoin

Published Online January 24, 2008

Last Edited December 13, 2013

Claude Jodoin, labour leader (b at Westmount, Qué 25 May 1913; d at Ottawa 1 Mar 1975). During the Depression he worked in the garment industry, becoming in 1937 an organizer for the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union.

Jodoin, Claude

Claude Jodoin, labour leader (b at Westmount, Qué 25 May 1913; d at Ottawa 1 Mar 1975). During the Depression he worked in the garment industry, becoming in 1937 an organizer for the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Selected president of the Montréal Trades and Labour Council in 1947, he was elected VP of the TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS in 1949. During 1953-54 he played an important role in arranging a "no raiding pact" between the TLC and the CANADIAN CONGRESS OF LABOUR, setting the stage for the complete amalgamation of the 2 by 1956.

President of the TLC 1954-55 and 1955-56, he was selected first president of the new CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS (CLC) in 1956, retaining the position for 10 years. Labour unity, in his view, was essential if organized labour was to influence the social, economic and political life of Canada and raise the standard of living of working people. Despite his early opposition to organized labour's involvement in politics, he supported the CLC's decision to back the New Democratic Party in 1961.