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Wayne Robinson, 1958-2008

Wayne RobinsonWayne Robinson, 1958-2008 Wayne Robinson, the Loblaws/RCSS director for UFCW Canada Local 1000A in Ontario, died in his sleep from heart failure on February 26. He leaves behind his wife Donna, their two children, Christopher and Michael, and many, many people who were not related but felt like they were.
For almost all of his 49 years, Brother Robinson had devoted his life to improving the lives of others at work and in the community. “The morning after Wayne died, the phone never stopped ringing,” says friend Kevin Corporon, president of Local 1000A. “You realized how many people Wayne meant some­thing to. He was so approachable. He was a very genuine guy and he had time for everyone.”

In 1973, Wayne started out as a grocery clerk at a Loblaws store in Brampton, Ont. Five years later he became a steward and spent the next 15 years watching out for his co-workers as a health-and-safety rep and later as a bargain­ing committee member.
In 1993, he was hired as a full-time staff representative at Local 1000A, servicing members at stores across south­western Ontario. He had a sharp eye for what made a store tick.“Wayne had these tremendous observation skills from the viewpoint of rank-and-file members as well as store operations,” says Brother Corporon. “He was very decisive and stood up for the members every minute of the day. But he was also respected for his integrity and plain speaking.”
In 2002, Brother Robinson was appointed as the direc­tor of the local’s Loblaw sector, with over 21,000 members across Ontario. His commitment to trade unionism and the community went beyond work. “There wasn’t a rally, or NDP candidate’s meeting in his riding, or a leukemia fundrais­ing event that he missed,” Corporon says. He even managed to squeeze in time for another passion as a youth baseball coach, not suprising for a man who deeply believed in the vision and teamwork of solidarity.
“All his life, Wayne stood up for people around him,” says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. “Those who worked with Wayne were fortunate, and so were UFCW Canada members to have had a champion who was so committed. We have lost a member of our family.”

"Wayne was a true gentleman and a pleasure to be around," commented Local 247 President Gib Whitlock. "It's a big loss for not just Local 1000A but UFCW Canada and I know all out thoughts and prayers are with his family."

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