2015 Labor Leaders on Labor Award

Leo Gerard
President, United Steel Workers

Following his father's groundbreaking work on behalf on minors and smelters in Ontario, Canada, Leo Gerard moved from being a nickel smelter to a union position within the USW.  He was elected director of USW District 6 in 1985 and re-elected in 1989, and was appointed national director of the Canadian division of the USW in August 1991. He was elected secretary-treasurer of the international union in 1993, and again in 1997. While USW secretary-treasurer, Gerard instituted a number of important administrative initiatives. He implemented cost-saving and revenue-generating initiatives, reorganized the secretary-treasurer's office, created an information technology department, developed a new union-to-member communications network, restructured member and local union servicing, and reinvigorated the union's organizing efforts. Gerard became the international president of the United Steelworkers in 2001, increasing membership by 60% in his first year.