OPSEU and its members have suffered a serious loss with the death, June 7, of Senior Negotiator André Bekerman. André had been fighting cancer for about two years. He was 55.

Those who worked with André in all sectors of the union will recall an energetic and enigmatic trade unionist who was never afraid to delegate authority and responsibility to members of his bargaining teams, and who expected nothing less than total commitment from those with whom he worked.

André was born in 1943 in Belgium, his mother Belgian and his father a Polish Jew with false papers, the family living in fear of the Gestapo.

They emigrated to Canada in 1952, settling in Waterloo, Ontario, where André developed a passion for social justice that lasted throughout his life.

Over 34 years in the labour movement as an organizer, educator and negotiator, he won respect for his commitment to the rights of working people. He worked in turn for the Canadian Union of Operating Engineers, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Communications Workers, the United Garment Workers, and the International Woodworkers.

For nearly two decades he was a senior negotiator at OPSEU.

"André made us realize what could be won through collective efforts," said OPSEU President Leah Casselman. "His legacy is a much tougher, stronger union."

His battle scars and battle stories testified to a tireless fight for the underdog, and an unfailingly creative approach to difficult challenges.

He was a believer in organizing with great faith in the people he worked with.

André Bekerman excelled at anything that excited him – and that covered a wide territory.

He was fluent in English and French, and spoke reasonable Spanish, Italian and Greek. He loved plants and gardening. He loved books and brandy.

In recent years, André found a second vocation in archaeology, and was researching his Ph.D. while working on digs in Cuba, Greece and Canada. He served for six years on the board of trustees of the Royal Ontario Museum.

He was particularly excited about a Cuban discovery of a hitherto obscure pre-Columbian civilization, and imparted his enthusiasm to a group of his colleagues during a lunch-hour slide presentation.

André Bekerman was fascinating to work with – quirky and enthusiastic, often enigmatic yet intensely focused; possessed of a tough analytic mind and a vibrant sense of humour.

In every sense, he was one of a kind and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

OPSEU has also created a $1,000 bursary in his memory. Details on the bursary will be announced in the fall, following consultation with André’s family.

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