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"Greg was a wonderful human being, a strong leader and a shrewd strategist," said James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Ottawa (14 Feb. 2012) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is mourning the death of Greg Greco, who passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at the age of 70.
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| Greg Greco |
Greco was president of Component 325, the Canadian Union of Brewery and General Workers (CUBGW), from 1983 to 2007 and was one of the longest-serving members of NUPGE’s National Executive Board, from 1985 to 2007.
Greco was the beloved husband of Mary Greco. Loving and devoted father of Catherine and Giuseppe D’Urzo, Renato Greco, and Gregory James Greco. Doting Nonno of Michael. Dear brother of Leonora Silvaggio. Caring brother-in-law, uncle and friend of many.
Born in Calabria, Italy on Jan. 5, 1943, Greco came to Canada in 1961, working initially as a bartender in downtown Toronto and eventually finding the job that changed his life.
On Oct. 29, 1970, he began work in the Carling O’Keefe plant in Etobicoke, Ontario. He joined the union and quickly became involved in union affairs.
In 1977, he was elected to his first union office, as alternate steward, in Local 325 of what was then the Canadian Union of United Brewery, Flour, Cereal, Soft Drink and Distillery Workers (BFCSD).
Three years later he was elected chief steward and three years after that he became president, the job he held until he retired in 2007.
James Clancy, NUPGE National President, knew Greco as a union leader for more than two decades.
"He was such a wonderful human being, as nice as anyone I've ever met," said Clancy. "But you also didn’t want to get on the wrong side of Greg, as Molson Breweries found out several times."
Clancy recalled how Greco gained a lot of respect for how well he handled a massive restructuring of the brewery industry in the 1990s.
"Greg was a strong leader and a shrewd strategist," said Clancy. "He had the skills and tenacity and commitment to help his members. I always enjoyed working with Greg and I know he will be missed by a lot of people."
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James Clancy with Greg Greco on the picket line at Molson Breweries in Toronto.
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Glen Hamilton, who succeeded Greco as the president of Component 325 (CUBGW), worked alongside Greg on the union executive for 21 years.
"Greg was a heck of a mentor," Hamilton said. "He taught me a lot. Except for his family, he never put anything ahead of the union and its members. His door was always open and he was behind them 110%. I will miss him so much. You couldn’t find a better person or a better friend than Greg Greco."
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Local 325 leaders hoisting a cold one in Toronto's Skyline Hotel following the 1985 lockout. Front (l to r) Bob Starkey, secretary; Greg Greco, president; Pat Larin, chief steward. Back (l to r) stewards Arunas Gataveckas, Bill Bickerstaffe and Chris Biggar.
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Larry Brown, NUPGE National Secretary-Treasurer, remembered Greg as "a dedicated leader who made a difference because he truly cared about the workers he represented."
"He also cared about the broader labour movement and you could always count on him to practice the principle of solidarity. His loss will be deeply felt," said Brown.
Greco had an event-filled career of fighting on behalf of brewery workers and the Canadian labour movement. He negotiated eight major contracts for his members, experiencing a rollercoaster of highs and lows along the way:
- In 1985, CUBGW members were locked out for five weeks in a dispute over the introduction of beer cans and several other issues, including seniority and alterations in contract language. The union got less than it wanted but the outcome was not nearly as damaging as it might have been.
- In 1991, Greco led a two-week strike that again involved seniority and also a number of rollback demands, this time by Molson Breweries, which had taken over from Carling O’Keefe. The union refused to budge. In fact, morale was so strong on picket lines that the workers spent their days playing street hockey outside the plant.
- In 1996, the union was involved in the toughest battle of Greco’s leadership, a punishing 10-week strike over downsizing and technological change. The dispute was made far worse than it might have been by the decision of workers at a Molson plant in Barrie to continue production while the Etobicoke plant was down.
Hamilton added that "one of the union’s proudest achievements under Greg’s leadership was its pension plan. Greg also left behind a respectful working relationship with management and a solid union constitution to protect our members into the future."
The family will receive their friends at the Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen Street S. (Hwy. 50), Bolton (905-857-2213) Friday 4 - 9 p.m.
Funeral Mass will be held in St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Albion, 16066 The Gore Road, Caledon East on Saturday, February 18 at 10:30 o’clock (leaving funeral home at 9:45 a.m.).
Interment St. John’s Cemetery.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE