On December 16, CUPE Local 79 bid farewell to Ron Brett as he embarked on a well-deserved retirement, capping a 34-year career working for the City that included nine years served at Local 79 in several roles.
In 1978, Ron first joined the workforce of what was then the Borough of Etobicoke, creating records for the Plumbing and Services division by copying engineering plans onto microfilm — a ‘state-of-the-art technology’ of its time.
Ron soon joined the ranks of water meter readers in 1979, but was transferred fourteen years later when the City contracted out his job. Ron spent the following three years in the Parks Department as a labourer, cutting grass in the summers and taking care of ski hills in the winter before being laid off in 1996.
Facing a challenging job market, Ron went back to school to improve his computer and software skills. His efforts paid off in 1998 when he was re-hired by the City’s Real Estate Services division as a dispatcher – sending out crews to fix city-owned buildings and properties when problems arose.
During the 2002 strike, a picket captain encouraged Ron to become a Union Steward. Despite initial hesitations, the call to serve his fellow members and help defend them against poor labour practices won him over. Ron became a Steward just after the strike ended.
In 2009, Ron was elected to the position of Unit Officer at Local 79. On his tenure as a Unit Officer, Ron says he tried his best to make a difference. “I was supportive of the stewards in my Unit, they knew they could count on me for answers, to be there for disputes, and they felt they could call me.”
“Having great friendships with Local 79 staff and my peers is something I won’t forget,” says Ron about his time at the union. A highpoint was being on the Bargaining Committee in 2005.
Looking back, Ron remembers the low-point in his career: the three years he was laid off. But it taught him “that any cloudy outcome can be very positive” in the end.
What does Ron plan to do for his retirement? “I finally have the time to do renovations on my home – so I’m in the middle of doing that right now.” He also plans to watch lots of soccer games, relax and get a library card.
Here at Local 79, we’ll miss Ron very much. We wish him the best in his retirement.
