It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of long-time trade-unionist and Manitoba Federation of Labour Vice-President John Marlow. Brother Marlow, was Chair of the CAW Local 3005 Retirees Chapter, represented the Manitoba Federation of Union Retirees (MFOUR) on the MFL Executive Council, and was the Manitoba delegate to the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada.

MFL President Kevin Rebeck said, “Brother Marlow brought great passion to the debates of Executive Council, speaking out on behalf of retirees on pension issues and advocating for all working families in Manitoba. His voice and common-sense approach to life’s challenges will be greatly missed by his colleagues. We offer our condolences to the John’s family and friends over their great loss.”

Brother Marlow was born in Stevensville, Newfoundland and Labrador in 1941. In 1949 he became a Canadian Citizen and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 15, and served with NATO, the United Nations and NORAD.

The Canadian Armed forces sent Brother John to Winnipeg to serve with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry ( PPCLI ). John served in the Canadian Military for twenty-five years.

Brother Marlow acted as a Veteran’s advocate for pension benefits and compensation for the testing of Agent Orange, Agent Purple and several other powerful defoliants that were sprayed over Canadian Forces Base Gagetown and surrounding communities, in the 1950s and late 1960s.

Brother John went to work at Bristol Aerospace in 1979, and became an active member of his Union CAIMAW Local #5. John served as Shop Steward and was active on many other committees including Labour Adjustment, and three terms as Local President. After CAIMAW merged with the Canadian Autoworkers Union in 1992, Brother Marlow continued his activism, later heading up the CAW Local 3005 Retirees Chapter. Brother Marlow retired from the Company after more than 20 years’ service on May 7, 2001.

His commitment to social justice did not diminish in retirement. During the bitter 9 ½ week strike in the spring of 2011, between CAW Local 3005 and Bristol Aerospace, The Brother and his retiree members invaded the constituency office of Conservative MP Steven Fletcher to demand that the Federal Government put pressure on Bristol / Magellan to get back to the bargaining table. While Fletcher refused to meet with the protesters, there can be no doubt that Brother John and his Retiree Chapter members were instrumental in putting pressure on Bristol to settle the labour dispute.

Brother Marlow’s funeral will be held Friday, November 16th at  10:30 am in the Chapel of Memories at Wojcik’s Funeral Chapell, 1020 Main Street at Manitoba Ave.  The family has asked that in lieu of flowers a donation to be made to the Salvation Army.

Read Brother Marlow’s obituary.