John Clout wasn't just a Fair Weather Leader

John Clout when he retired.

John Clout was elected five times to the position of GM unit Plant Chairperson in St Catharines. John was first elected in 1980 and was re-elected four more times in, 81, 84, 87 and 1990. In 1988 John opted to run for President and was elected in the spring of 1988. After two years in the office, and at the insistence of many, John resigned, to run once again as the GM Unit Plant Chairperson. During that period John headed the Local Negotiating Committee in 1982, 1984, 1987 and 1990 negotiations and was a member of the Master Negotiating Committee.

Back in 1987 when John was the Chairperson of the Master Negotiating Committee we made several historical gains on the pension front. The CAW negotiated indexed pensions, 25 and out for all foundry workers (including the Pattern shop). At this time the bargaining Committee also resolved the 20 year old problem of pension credits for women who laid off out of line of seniority back in the 1960's, and also won parity for the Precision Grinders.

In 1982 Canadian workers were faced with going to the Bargaining table alone for the first time in their history. American GM workers had reopened the 1979 Agreement and signed a massive concessionary contract. As well, thousands of Canadian GM workers were on permanent layoff. Under these extremely difficult times, and with the support of the total Membership, the CAW was able to beat back most of the U.S. concessions and sign a contract without a strike. When the Welland Avenue Plant was closed John was the Chairman, John fought relentlessly to have it reopened.

Clearly John Clout was a well recognized and well respected vocal spokesperson for the rank and file. Some may not have always agreed with his politics, but he was undoubtedly a very able worker tactician. Bob White realized this when he picked John to replace Gerry Michaud on the NEB and why he was re-elected to the NEB, as Trustee, at the 1988 CAW National Convention in Halifax.

After Bargaining in 1990, John was put on CAW Staff as a National Service Rep. Sometime later the division of the national assignments was also altered, to give John GM in St. Catharines. During his career John was involved in countless issues, too many mention in a short article. Which included; human rights and harassment in the workplace and the Union, Local 199 Membership electing their Shop Committee representatives to be their bargainers, equal rights for everyone, ensuring that one of the two top spots in the Local 199 Bargaining Committee was from Skilled Trades, job security, voluntary layoffs, income security, indexed pensions, over and above wage increases for the trades, a strong health and safety advocate, and mostly every campaign, forum, rally and Queen's Park action that occurred.

John Clout and his wife Irene and their three children were always permanent fixtures in the annual Labour Day parades.

John Clout's record speaks for itself, John was a firm believer that a list of credentials meant nothing, if you didn't do anything with them. He was indeed a very forward thinker, who strategized on the best course of action to reach a particular goal. After laying out the approach, he would fight with his all to reach that end on behalf of workers and their families.

John Clout with Dan Boone & Leroy Bell

Dan Boone (our past Skilled Trades Chairperson and National H & S Coordinator) says this about John Clout.......

"I have never met and probably never will meet another individual like John Clout. He was my mentor in the Labour Movement . There were indeed others who were impressive in their roles and capabilities, like Leroy Bell, for example, our Human Rights Rep. and CAW Council member, who remained steadfast always vocal, on his beliefs. And Bob Nickerson, our National Financial Secretary, who had "fire in his belly" when advancing worker's issues. But in my mind John was the epitome of a workers representative. John Clout was the total package, the two most important things in his life was, his family, representing workers and their families. John did both with a lot of passion.. He was the biggest reason that I became involved in the Union and I owe a lot to John. My good friend is sorely missed."

A closing thought about John and his determination that you may not know, it took John 17 years of countless elections to get elected to his first position and as it happened, it was GM Unit Chairperson in an election he never expected to win in 1980. Now that's determination.

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