Hassan Yussuff
Hassan Yussuff | |
|---|---|
 Yussuff in 2017 | |
| Canadian Senator fromOntario | |
| Assumed office June 22, 2021 | |
| Nominated by | Justin Trudeau |
| Appointed by | Richard Wagner |
| Preceded by | Lynn Beyak |
| 8th President of theCanadian Labour Congress | |
| In office 2014 – June 18, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Ken Georgetti |
| Succeeded by | Bea Bruske[1] |
| 2nd President of theTrade Union Confederation of the Americas | |
| In office April 20, 2012 – 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Linda Chavez-Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Fred Redmond |
| Secretary-Treasurer of theCanadian Labour Congress | |
| In office 2002–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 15, 1957[2][3] Guyana |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Independent |
| Children | 1[3] |
| Occupation | Heavy truck mechanic,trade unionist |
Hassan Yussuff(born December 15, 1957) is a Canadian labour leader and politician. From 2014 to 2021, Yussuff served as president of theCanadian Labour Congress(CLC), the firstvisible minorityperson to hold the role.[4]In 2021, Yussuff was appointed by Prime MinisterJustin Trudeauto serve asCanadian SenatorfromOntario.
Early life[edit]
Yussuff emigrated to Canada fromGuyanaas a young man to work as a heavy truck mechanic.[5]Once he arrived in Toronto, Yussuff soon found employment on the plant floor of CanCar, a local automotive parts manufacturer.[6]
Career[edit]
Canadian Auto Workers[edit]
Yussuff first became a member of theCanadian Auto Workers(CAW) union while at CanCar. Within a year, he was elected plant chairman of Local 252 of the Canadian Auto Workers at the age of 19.[7]Yussuff was later elected plant chairman of the General Motors Truck Centre.
He later served as a staff representative in the organizing and service departments before being appointed as Director of the CAW Human Rights Department.
Canadian Labor Congress[edit]
Yussuff's position led to him joining the CLC's Executive Council, where he co-chaired the CLC Human Rights Committee.[8]In 1999, Yussuff was elected Executive Vice-President of the CLC. In 2002, Yussuff was elevated to the position of Secretary-Treasury within the CLC, serving for twelve years. On April 20, 2012, Yussuff was elected to a four-year term as President of theTrade Union Confederation of the Americas.[9][10]
He remained in that position until 2014, when he challenged incumbent CLC PresidentKen Georgetti,defeating him by 40 votes at the CLC's May 2014 convention to become CLC president.[11]In doing so, he became first person to unseat an incumbent CLC president[12]and the firstnon-whiteCanadian to hold the role.[4]
Yussuff's presidency was characterized by a rift among the leadership of the CLC between NDP-loyalists and those who favoured widening the support to include the Liberal Party where appropriate. This reflected Yussuff's personal beliefs, and those of then-president ofUNIFOR,Jerry Dias.Unable to reconcile his differences with the CLC on a number of issues, including on UNIFOR's decision to begin raiding other affiliates of the Congress, Dias pulled UNIFOR out of the CLC and disaffiliated, leaving Yussuff, elected from the delegates of UNIFOR, ineligible to remain in the role. He was given a special membership by one of the affiliates to permit him to carry out the remainder of his term, and on June 18, 2021, Yussuff retired from office, and was replaced by Bea Bruske.[3][13]
Political activity[edit]
Following the loss of theNew Democratic Party(NDP) in the2015 federal election,Yussuff supported replacingTom Mulcairas party leader.[14]In 2019, Yussuff voiced concern that the federal NDP was failing to resonate with both its membership and the general electorate.[15]
Yussuff opposed the CLC's decision to affirm its relationship with the NDP at the 2021 convention, arguing the CLC should take a more pragmatic approach to party politics.[16]
In 2021, Yussuff co-wrote an op-ed withPerrin Beatty,CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in support of theCanada Emergency Wage Subsidyfor theFinancial Post.
On June 22, 2021, Yussuff was appointed byLiberalPrime MinisterJustin Trudeauto the Senate of Canada.[17]
Personal life[edit]
Yussuff is married to Jenny Ahn, who works as the Executive Director for Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations,[18]with whom he has a daughter.[19]In October 2018, Yussuff received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree fromRyerson University.[7]
References[edit]
- ^"Canadian Labour Congress elects new president to lead nation's biggest labour group".cbc.ca.June 18, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2021.
- ^"Senate of Canada - Senators List".September 2016.
- ^abcThurton, David (June 18, 2021)."No apologies: Hassan Yussuff faces down his critics as he retires as leader of Canadian Labour Congress".cbc.ca.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2021.
- ^abThurton, David (June 18, 2021)."No apologies: Hassan Yussuff faces down his critics as he retires as leader of Canadian Labour Congress".CBC News.
- ^"New Canadian Labour Congress chief vows aggressive approach".Globe and Mail.May 8, 2014.RetrievedMay 8,2014.
- ^"Hassan Yussuff (Bio and Stories):: Parkland Institute".parklandinstitute.ca. Archived fromthe originalon May 8, 2014.RetrievedMay 8,2014.
- ^ab"Ryerson University to Honour Maria Campbell and Hassan Yussuff, October 10–11".Ryerson University.Retrieved2022-03-30.
- ^"Hassan Yussuff | Canadian Labour Congress".canadianlabour.ca. Archived fromthe originalon May 12, 2014.RetrievedJune 1,2014.
- ^"CLC's Hassan Yussuff to head TUCA: Elected president of hemispheric labour organization".Canadian Labour Congress.April 20, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon May 9, 2014.RetrievedMay 8,2014.
- ^"Who's running for CLC national executive? | rabble.ca".rabble.ca.RetrievedMay 8,2014.
- ^"Hassan Yussuff elected new head of Canadian Labour Congress".Montreal Gazette.May 8, 2014.RetrievedMay 8,2014.
- ^"Hassan Yussuff is new CLC President".Rabble.ca.May 8, 2014.RetrievedMay 8,2014.
- ^"Head of Canada's unions set to preside over his final Convention after navigating pandemic response".globenewswire.com.June 15, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2021.
- ^"Mulcair responds to Labour Congress statement predicting NDP leader will get less than 60 per cent in review".National Post.2016-04-06.Retrieved2022-03-30.
- ^"Federal NDP struggling to resonate with members and Canadians at large, labour leader says".The Toronto Star.2019-02-15.ISSN0319-0781.Retrieved2022-03-30.
- ^Tasker, John Paul (June 22, 2021)."Trudeau taps a former labour leader and a mayor to fill Senate vacancies".CBC News.
- ^"The Prime Minister announces the appointment of three Senators".Prime Minister of Canada.2021-06-22.Retrieved2021-06-22.
- ^"Jenny Ahn hired as next OCUFA Executive Director".October 22, 2020.
- ^McFarl, Janet (2014-06-20)."Union roots run deep for Canada's new face of labour".The Globe and Mail.Retrieved2022-03-30.
External links[edit]
Media related toHassan Yussuffat Wikimedia Commons
