Last month, the Alberta Federation of Labour held their 2024 Midterm Forum at the MacEwan Centre in the University of Calgary. As part of the forum, the AFL conferred two awards.
They gave the May Day Solidarity Award posthumously to David Smith, a former labour relations officer for Local 401 of United Food and Commercial Workers.
Smith passed away on 17 February 2024 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Although he had been a labour relations specialist for Local 401 for over 21 years before retiring this past November, he actually started with UFCW years before as a cashier at the Banff Safeway. He went on to become a national representative for UFCW, until settling into Local 401 in the summer of 2001.
In a statement provided earlier this year, Thomas Hesse, Local 401’s president, referred to Smith as a personal friend and an advocate for workers.
Dave Smith played a critical role in helping to shape the direction of our local union. I worked alongside Dave for many decades and was lucky enough to call him my friend. Dave was a true champion for working people, their needs, and their values. The world is an emptier place without him in it. I often heard Dave’s mellow but unwavering voice on issues of critical importance to our members. Dave’s viewpoint and counsel were always sound and offered from the perspective of working people.
Richelle Stewart, the secretary treasurer for Local 401, called Smith kind, compassionate, sincere, and humble.
We are indebted to Dave for the kindness, the compassion, and the integrity he demonstrated through the example of his life. I can think of few people whose sincerity and humility left as powerful an impression on me as Dave Smith’s. I will carry the strength of Dave’s presence with me as I continue working toward our shared goal of a better world for working people.
Donna Hokiro, the outgoing president of Local 1944 of the United Steelworkers, received the International Women’s Day Award.
Local 1944 is based out of Burnaby, British Columbia, but has offices in Calgary and Edmonton.
Initiated in 1990, the International Women’s Day Award recognizes women in the labour movement for their outstanding commitment and leadership in the trade union movement and the community. It is given to a trade union activist, leader, or community activist who is dedicated to equity and the application of a feminist lens in union and community work.
According to Scott Lunny, the director of USW’s District 3, Hokiro has been committed to the labour movement for over 30 years.
Donna’s commitment to the labour movement spans her tenure at Ed Tel, Alberta Government Telephones (AGT) and Telus since July 1990. Throughout the years, she has advocated for her fellow union members while working in various clerical positions. She has passionately embraced the challenges of advocating for the membership against the telecom giant.
Lunny also highlighted her many efforts to mentor and train other labour representatives.
Over the years, Donna has mentored and trained other activists through building power, bargaining training, steward training, parliamentary procedure, arbitrations and grievances. She is a champion of gender equity, working tirelessly to address barriers faced by cis and trans women, advocating for pay equity to narrow the gender wage gap and promoting fairness in compensation and benefits.
Although Hokiro wasn’t able to attend the awards ceremony in person as she transitions her presidency to the incoming president, Michael Phillips, she did release a statement, humble to be nominated with others she considers strong and tenacious.
I want to especially acknowledge and thank the other women/sisters or those who identify, who were also nominated to receive this recognition. I am so very humbled to be thought of and included in such a profound group of women whose strength, tenacity, determination and sheer grit is known to all that meet, know, admire, and love them. Each of you are sisters whom I honour and respect so very much and I share this award with each of you as we are all deserving.
