Len Harrison, A Flame that Still Burns Brightly

Cream A Troy Soup Campaign, 1993.

From a young age, Len Harrison, was interested in labour and politics, both of which would become a lifelong dedication. Len was born in England in 1934 and grew up in a politically involved family. Len's father Leonard Harrison was a representative on the local town council in England. After attending a rally in his home town of Grangetown, England, at the age of eleven, Len gained an interest in the activities of the Labour Party and from this point forward his dedication to advocating for the rights of workers would have no turning back.

During his childhood, Len participated in every school play, during this time he developed a love for the arts and performing in public that to this day has never left him. The skills Len learned during these early formative years helped shape his career, honed his ability to captivate a crowd, and send a political message often in a humorous or mischievous way.

In 1955, the young Harrison family consisting of Len, his wife June and son Antony James, immigrated to Canada. Len said when they travelled from Quebec to Hamilton, I only had only five dollars in my pocket, quite a scary situation when you have a family to support. Len came to Canada with dreams of a better life for not only his family, but all the workers that surround him. Len had a burning desire in his belly to make a difference for everyone. Len said "After going down the road to find a job," he was offered employment as a millwright at Stelco, a steel plant in Hamilton, where he would work for the next 10 years. It wasn't long before the outspoken and opinionated Harrison became involved with the union and was elected to the position of chief steward.

On January 11, 1965 Len changed employers and he would embark on his thirty-three year career at the GM plant referred to as the "Foundry" and became a member of the UAW. This change ignited the flame that was to become Len Harrison's political career. Len said despite the horrible working conditions in the plant, the camaraderie in the foundry was second to none, workers knew how to support each other, and they were one big family. During the early foundry days, Len saw that the workers needed better working conditions and significantly higher wages for the work they were doing. At this time, Len's strong New Democrat ideologies surfaced and he set out to make a contribution.

After years of dedication to the foundry, Len's political side would begin to emerge. Len wrote countless articles for the local union newspaper called "As I See It". Len distributed union materials and articles around the plant to raise the membership's awareness about the issues of the day. Getting your name out in the plant was very important in those days, especially if you wanted to get elected to any position. To this end, everything Len distributed in the plant had the words "Please Return to Len Harrison" written across the top. "I didn't get to many articles back, but everyone who read it, saw and recognized my name!"

Len's articles and willingness to talk about the issues earned him significant popularity throughout the plant. Len's political efforts in the "Foundry" would earn him a position on the Shop Committee and through this, he would further engrave his political mark through attempts to improve Health & Safety Standards, with goals to clean up the foundry & improve working conditions.

Len's popularity and dedication helped Len to become the Editor of Local 199's News paper. Over the years the paper earned various literary, photography and publication design awards. As a writer with a love for politics and a goal to make the "Foundry' a better place, Len was on a mission and had every intention of making it happen. Furthermore, Len's political agenda would further progress as he was elected President of the St. Catharines and District Labour Council. His political accomplishments would later prove to be a strong factor in supporting his Local 199, through various political movements.

Len Harrison, Marathon of Despair runners

Two of the more memorable campaigns Len was involved in were the "Marathon of Despair" and the "Level Playing Field Cemetery". Both campaigns made national television broadcasts by CBC. Len's ability to mix political messaging with his creative and artistic side placed these issues front and center of the news. As a result, he would further increase his involvement and recognition in Local 199. Buzz Hargrove, President of the CAW at the time, told Len I always knew when you were in town, because you always created a commotion and make the news.

In 1993, during federal elections to draw attention to the conservative government's policies Len, working with other activists promoted the Creamatory Soup campaign. CAW activist Sandy Bell designed a soup can clone called "Kim Campbell's CREAM-A-TORY Soup" On the label it claimed the ingredients included, U.I. reductions, layoffs and plant closures, free trade, GST and was unsuitable for human consumption. 6,000 cans were made and were sold very quickly across Canada. At the time, a rumor circulated that the Prime Minister of Canada, Kim Campbell purchased a can and kept it in her office! Near the end of the campaign the CAW received a letter from a lawyer representing Campbell's soups, demanding they stop making and selling the cans. Len in his usual quick witted manner suggested to the Lawyer representing Campbell's, that he could quickly end the campaign if he would buy the last few hundred cans from Len! This was a classic Len Harrison move, never short on words or humour.

When it came time to retire after 33 years at GM, Len felt that he wasn't quite ready to give up his involvement with his union. Changing gears, Len quickly adjusted to retired life and a new role within the movement.

For his political and creative abilities, and his accomplishments over the last three decades, Len Harrison was rewarded by Buzz Hargrove, and appointed to the CAW National Executive Board, Len became the first retiree to sit on the CAW NEB. Initially, Len was given voice but no vote; meaning he could talk at the board meetings but he could not vote on any of the decisions being made. Many retirees were insulted and felt this was not enough, Len's response was "be patient, we don't want to blow this opportunity'. Len's foresight didn't take to bear fruit; the NEB recognized Len's value and contribution and gave his position voice and vote.

Since retiring, Len continues to make significant political accomplishments for retired workers, helping to train six retired members of Local 199 as retiree advocates for the Medical Awareness Program. Len said that establishing the Medical Awareness Program taught by CAW retirees is his most satisfying accomplishment with the CAW. Components of the program consist on how to speak to your doctor, healthy lifestyle recommendations, and the potential health hazards of medications. Additionally, this program offers its retired members with education and awareness towards new medications that appear in the market, their benefits and potential risks.

At seventy-six years of age, Len continues to advocate for the Medication Awareness Program and attempts to better integrate its educational capabilities to those in need. Len Harrison’s colourful resume with the CAW shows he truly has a heart of gold.

In conclusion I must say that I was honoured to have the opportunity to interview Mr. Harrison and have been truly moved by the lifetime of achievements he has and in fact continues to make. Len's childhood dream was to carve out a better life for his family and improve the workplace for the workers around him, a dream he has no doubt accomplished.

I personally have gained a greater knowledge of the past and its struggles and hope all that read this article will feel the same. I would like to leave you with two quotes from Len Harrison that guided his life and helped him make a difference for his family and countless CAW members.

Len told us "When I talk with my family, on the phone or in person, I always think, this could be the last conversation I have with them. It is very important to me, that they know how I feel about them, so I never end a conversation with a family member, without saying I love you."

Len Harrison with Brock student Jesse Aubertin 2011

When Len Harrison was born there was a spark, a spark that became a flame that to this day burns brightly. He deserves to be recognized for the life long achievements he has made on behalf of the labour movement and for making this world a better place to live. Our responsibility is to ensure that we pass the torch lit by Len and so many others like him, to future generations and we continue this battle for a greater living for all.

Len Harrison is currently the CAW Chair of Retirees Advisory Executive, a Member of the National Executive Board of the CAW and the Chair of Niagara Area Committee for Retired Workers

Link to More Images of Len Harrison
Click here to view more articles about our unions history
Click here to view our photograph Album