Leo W. Gerard, former president of the United Steelworkers who helped link the labor movement with climate action, died Sunday in his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario. He was 78.
A towering figure in North American labor rights, Gerard led the 850,000-member union from 2001 until his retirement in 2019, expanding the union’s reach across the region. In 2006, he co-founded the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition that united labor unions and environmental groups to work for climate solutions.
The group went on to shape clean energy standards in union jobs. Gerard was an advocate for fair pay, safe work conditions and job security.
Gerard was born in Creighton Mine, Ontario, and his father — a miner and union organizer — introduced him to union work at an early age, according to United Steel Workers. Gerard joined USW at 18 while working at a nickel smelter, the organization said. He rose steadily through the ranks, and in 2001, he became the union’s seventh president. His 18-year tenure as president was the longest in USW’s history.
