CUPE is saddened to hear of the passing of Stephen Lewis, a leader, activist, and one of the greatest orators this country has known, who used his voice to make life better for working people.
Stephen Lewis dedicated not only his career, but his life, to advocating for social justice, workers’ rights, and human rights. He believed that it was our responsibility as a workers’ movement to stand up to the injustices faced by all communities.
“Stephen didn’t just challenge injustice - he compelled others to act. For so many in our movement, he set the standard for what solidarity looks like in practice,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “His example will continue to guide and inspire us on the road ahead.”
In 1974, when miners in Elliot Lake went on strike to demand safer working conditions, Lewis, as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, stood with them. He forced the Ontario government to stop ignoring the health risks that miners were exposed to daily, which led to the creation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in 1979.
When the world turned a blind eye to the HIV/AIDS crisis taking lives across the globe, Lewis used his platform as UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa to push world leaders to respond to the epidemic. His work continues to live on in the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
“Stephen Lewis showed us what it means to speak truth to power, and to do so with compassion and conviction,” said Candace Rennick, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer. “He never wavered in his belief in the dignity of all people, and his voice has helped shape a more just Canada.”
Lewis carried with him the principles of social democracy, advocating for those the world has forgotten. He inspired generations of Canadians and Canadian workers to believe that better is possible.
Our thoughts and our hearts are with the Lewis family, his loved ones, and all those mourning this loss across the country and around the world. Rest in power.