Prince George, B.C. – Jack Munro,  has  died.

They called him “Union Jack”,  the man who   led the  IWA through some challenging  times and  negotiated  significant   changes for the membership.

He  first  came to BC in 1959 to work as a welder at   a sawmill in Nelson.  It wasn’t long before he  moved up the union  ranks from  Job Steward to Plant  Chair.  In 1966 while President of the Nelson and District Labour Council, Jack ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the BC NDP. While elected politics were not in his future, Jack’s impact on BC’s political and economic scene was just beginning.

Jack was elected President of the IWA in 1973, beginning a long career defending the interests of working people. Known for his salty language and quick tongue, Munro was ever clear on where he stood.

“Jack was very self assured and made great strides for our members” says  Frank Everitt,  President of  Steelworkers local 1-424.  “He  led  our members through two strikes,  one in ’81 and one in ’86.  It was in 1981 that he secured significant  improvements  in wages for our members,  negotiating  a 13 to 15% increase.”

Everitt says  Munro was  a union pioneer,  who  fought for, and produced improvements to  long term disability plans, and helped roll the three different pension plans in the province, into one.  When  faced by  an active  environmental  movement that opposed the  cutting of timber,  Jack stood strong.  “He never really retired” says Everitt, who  says Munro  remained active with the union’s Senior’s Retirement Organization  after his “retirement” in 1991 and  was responsible for the development of the Labour  Heritage Society which  is focused on telling the  stories of  workers in this province.  “He will be  greatly missed” says  Everitt.

BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair says Munro “Spent his working life determined to ensure that workers were treated fairly, and that they and their unions deserved respect and recognition for their rightful place in Canadian society.”    It was Munro’s work that led to the  permanent installation of artwork depicting working people’s history  of BC at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  “On behalf of BC’s labour movement, we extend our deepest sympathies Jack’s wife Deborrah, their family and friends, and the countless working people who mourn his death.”

Premier Christy Clark says "Jack Munro was a huge presence on the British Columbia landscape, a passionate man with a knack for making friends in every part of the province.”

In an official statement released this morning, the Premier says "The Jack the public saw was not an act. He never shied away from speaking his mind, and often did so in a colourful fashion. He had a generous heart, and treated everyone he met exactly the same.

Jack was driven in public life by one goal – to make life better for working British Columbians. His contributions to B.C.'s labour movement and the province as a whole are immeasurable. British Columbia is far less colourful today with Jack gone. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Jack Munro was 82.