Unifor National Representative Bob Fitzgerald retiring
May 26, 2017

Unifor National Representative Bob Fitzgerald announced his retirement from Unifor and 47 years’ service with Canadian National Railway (CN).

Bob has had a long history of trade union activism since he was hired on with the CNR in 1970, working under Collective Agreement 5.1 in a variety of different jobs and departments, including CN Express, Diesel Shop, Carload Centre, Revenue Management and Crew Management to name a few. His career in the Union saw him serve in a variety of capacities, including Local Chairperson in stints with our predecessor Unions the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway, Transport and General Workers Union (CBRT&GW) and the CAW. Brother Fitzgerald went on to be elected twice as the Regional Representative of CAW National Council 4000’s Great Lakes Region responsible for servicing CAW Local 4003 members at CN, CNTL and TTR, and former Local 4003 members at Autoport and Coyote Terminals. Bob was also elected twice as the President of National Council 4000 prior to being appointed to the staff of the National Union July 27, 2009.

The Unifor National Council 4000 Executive Board and full-time Regional Representatives held a retirement dinner for Brother Fitzgerald and his lovely wife Liz on May 12th in Toronto to celebrate and honour the many years of Bob’s contributions to the labour movement and to Council 4000.

National Representative Bob Fitzgerald at the Unifor Council 4000 6th Triennial Convention in Winnipeg, 2016

We wish the best for Bob and Liz best wishes with good health and prosperity in their years of retirement (for the record, Liz is still working), and thank Bob for his many years of service and contributions to our Council, Regional Local Unions and our Unifor membership. 

Bob Fitzgerald with his wife Liz at his side, is presented retirement gift from Unifor National Council 4000 and Regional Representative Wesley Gajda

Bob Fitzgerald giving a speech during the retirement dinner held in his honour by the Executive and Regional Reps of Council 4000 in Toronto

Retired Council 4000 Secretary Treasurer Heather Grant saying some words in honour of retiring Bob Fitzgerald

Unifor Local 4005 President Steven Harding presenting Brother Fitzgerald with a retirement gift from Local 4005 during a dinner in Halifax

Bob addressing the delegates at Council 4000's 6th Triennial Convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba November 25-26, 2016

Bob Fitzgerald and Barry Kennedy with Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus and Essex NDP MP Tracey Ramsey

Bob Fitzgerald with Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus

Bob Fitzgerald, then President of CAW National Council 4000, presents retiring CAW President Buzz Hargrove with a gift during the 2008 CAW Rail Conference in Port Elgin, Ontario

2016 Toronto Terminals Railway bargaining
L-R: Nick Ricci, Bob Fitzgerald, Barry Kennedy and Mark Robinson

Steven Harding, Bob Fitzgerald and Wesley Gajda in Newfoundland 2016 during the Council's trip to meet our CNTL Newfoundland membership

2000 CN / VIA Rail bargaining

Bob with former CBRT&GW
Regional Vice President Bob Stevens
at Talbotville, Ontario's Railway Museum

Bob at Cape Spear, Newfoundland, at the farthest most easternly point in North America!

Dressed for a road-trip across Newfoundland!

Brother Fitzgerald's last arbitration case - Ad Hoc 658, the VIA 360 grievance - May 26, 2017 at the CROA Boardroom in Montreal. With Danny Andru and Barry Kennedy (missing in the photo, Dave Kissack)

Related:

May 26, 2017   Unifor Council 4000 President Barry Kennedy appointed National Representative