2017-2023
Dave Clark
Brother Clark was elected National President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees at its 2017 Convention. Dave served in several union positions in different unions throughout his working life, such as shop steward and local president. In 2011, he became the UCTE Regional Vice-President Pacific Region, a position he held until 2017. He was also the first National President elected from the private sector, of which he was very proud.
2008-2017
Christine Collins
Between 1976 to 1981, Christine was an active member of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU) while working at Algonquin College in Ottawa. She was a leader during the 1980 province-wide strike of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. In 1981, Christine began working at Transport Canada HQ and became active in the UCTE. She attended her first meeting of Local 70703 and left as a member of the executive. That was her first position within the union and the start of a lifetime of activism and commitment that continued until her retirement.
1999-2008
Mike Wing
Brother Wing’s activism with the UCTE began during the 1991 Treasury Board strike. He was elected strike captain at his first strike meeting, joining the PSAC Regional Strike Committee. Brother Wing was elected President of his Local during this period. In 1996 at the 10th Triennial UCTE convention, he was elected National Vice-President. In 1998, he was elected President of PSAC Ottawa Hull Regional Council. At the 1999 Triannual Convention, he was elected the Union’s 9th National President.
1993-1999
Robert Desfonds
Brother Desfonds began working at the Dorval Airport as a maintenance tinsmith in 1976. He quickly became active in the UCTE Local 10107. In 1977 he became a steward and, in 1982, was elected local president. At the 1987 convention, he was elected Regional Vice-President for Québec. In 1990, at the Vancouver Convention, he was elected full-time RVP for the province. He was elected President at the 10th Triennial Convention held in Toronto in 1996.
1981-1993
Robert Cox
Brother Cox began working with the Department of Transport in 1960 as an Air Traffic Control Assistant at the Moncton Airport. He was the National Chair of the Air Traffic Control Assistants Association and helped lead a one-week-long wildcat strike in the fall of 1974. It was the first strike by UCTE members.
1978-1981
William Freifeld
Brother Freifeld was born in 1927, and like many of his generation, he was a Second World War veteran, having served in the Royal Canadian Navy. His union activities began at Toronto International Airport when in 1960, William became a member of the Canadian Air Services Association (CASA). He served as local president before being elected to the UCTE national executive in 1975 as the Ontario Regional Vice-President. Brother Friedfeld was elected First Vice-President at the 1978 Convention in Halifax.
1972-1978
Guy Jacob
Guy Jacob became UCTE President at the 1972 convention in a very close vote. He was then twice re-elected to the office in 1975 and 1978. Brother Jacob was active in the labour movement before the PSAC was created. He was involved with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 10 years before starting to work at the Dorval airport. He was a delegate at the meeting that created the component in 1966.
1971-1972
Percy Bourne
When the President and 1st Vice-President had to resign before completing their term, Percy Bourne assumed the responsibilities of National President. This was a significant event as he became the first black President of a PSAC component union. Brother Bourne was a radio operator employed by the Department of Transport (DOT) at the Montreal Airport.
1969-1971
John McLermon
Brother McLermon was elected President of the Canadian Union of Transport Employees (UCTE) at its first component convention in 1969. In 1959 John was elected Vice-president of the Toronto Meteorological Branch of the Canadian Air Services Association (CASA). In 1958 he was elected Branch President.
1968-1969
Dave Rush
Brother Rush was elevated to president when Don Bennett stepped down. He had been appointed the national vice-president at the 1966 meeting that established the component. In replacing Bennett, he served 14 months in the office.
1966-1968
Don Bennett
In November 1966, officers representing the Canadian Marine National Employees Association (CMNEA), the Canadian Air Service Association (CASA), and the Civil Service Association of Canada (CSAC) gathered to form the Department of Transport Component (DTC). They appointed Don Bennett as the president of the new organization. DTC was one of the five founding components that met before the Nov 9th, 1966, merger convention founding the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). Don served on the first Board of Directors of the PSAC.
