The Sunshine Coast lost one of its finest last month. Ray Haynes, probably the best-known and most influential labour activist in B.C. history, died on February 20 at 94 years old.
Ray’s career as a union and social activist spanned a period of 74 years — longer than Queen Elizabeth II sat on the throne! His involvement with organized labour began when he was 20, with a sawmill job and IWA affiliation. He soon moved on to become an organizer for the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, when he signed 29 of his 30 co-workers at the Hudson Bay Company Wholesalers, where he was employed blending tea! This turned out to be a stepping stone to the job which made him famous – Secretary-Treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour, from 1966 until 1973.
This was a turbulent time for organized labour in the province. The Social Credit government under W.A.C. Bennett was not labour-friendly, and binding arbitration, as well as court injunctions, were the order of the day. Ray Haynes and the BC Fed were always in the news during that era, standing up for justice, both on the job and in the community as a whole.
Ray was remembered as being tough, but fair. He spoke out against court-ordered arbitration in contract disputes, but he was equally insistent that picket lines be respected by all union members! He organized “hot” boycotts, notably against grapes harvested by non-union workers in California. He ruled the House of Labour at what was probably the most militant time in B.C. history, and was instrumental in bringing about the election of Dave Barrett and the first NDP government in the province.
Ray was quoted as saying that on his first day on the job at the BC Fed, 10 union leaders were arrested. In spite of his outspoken tendencies, Ray himself was never arrested – until 2012. Long since retired, Ray still rose to battle social injustice and environmental issues. He joined a group of protesters blockading a train loaded with coal, travelling through White Rock to Roberts Bank. All were arrested, but Ray was given a chair instead of a cell, and was later released. He was 84 and still battling!
After leaving the Fed in 1973, Ray worked as business manager for several unions, the last being the BC Nurses, where he was instrumental in organizing the Long Term Care nurses in BC. This, he said, was one of the accomplishments of which he was most proud. And here on the Sunshine Coast, in his senior years, Ray continued to fight for reform and social justice. He served as a BC FORUM representative to Labour Council, as a member of the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of BC (COSCO), and on committees to fight for improved service on BC Ferries, and to keep Long Term Care public. As one of his admirers declared when Ray was given a standing ovation at last year’s BC Fed convention, he never really did retire!
There will be two Celebrations of Life for Ray Haynes. The first will take place at the Operating Engineers Hall, 4333 Ledger Avenue in Burnaby, on April 1 at 1:30 p.m. The second will be in Sechelt, at the Seniors Activity Centre, 5604 Trail Avenue, on April 16 at 2 p.m. Those who wish to pay their respects and hear lots of wonderful stories are welcome, and encouraged, to attend.
