(Sudbury – April 26, 2018)

LUFA is delighted to announce that Jean-Charles Cachon will be the recipient of the prestigious OCUFA Service Award. The award will be presented in Toronto on May 12.

Jean-Charles has an illustrious 40-year track record as an academic labour leader who has contributed greatly to OCUFA and its member associations. In the late 1970s, he helped to organize the faculty association at Hearst University and was its founding President. Since his arrival at Laurentian University in 1983, he has contributed to the faculty association on many levels including as mentor, media spokesperson, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-President, and President.

Jean-Charles has the broad view of labour organization and activism. In 1996-97, he played a pivotal role in organizing the Days of Action against the Harris government that culminated in the largest street demonstration in Sudbury’s history. On his watch as the LUFA President in 2002, the faculty association joined the Sudbury and District Labour Council and also became a member of the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Jean-Charles’ most recent contribution was to the LUFA strike of 2017. He returned from sabbatical in Australia on the eve of the strike, and was at strike headquarters the following morning, ready for action. His institutional memory, keen instincts, organizational talents, and tireless commitment were evident throughout, thus helping to make the strike a success. The gains that were achieved have in turn helped other faculty associations, such as at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, with their bargaining.

Please join us in congratulating Jean-Charles as a most worthy recipient of this honour.

The LUFA Executive