Michel Chartrand, Canadian trade union leader and activist (d. 2010)
Michel Chartrand (20 December 1916 – 12 April 2010) was a Canadian trade union leader from Quebec.
Born in Outremont and trained as a typography and print worker, Chartrand became involved in union activism in the 1940s. During the Grande Noirceur, he took part in major strike actions such as the Asbestos strike in 1949, the Louiseville Strike in 1952 and the Murdochville strike in 1957. In 1968, he became president of the Montreal central council of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN). In 1970, during the October crisis, he was arrested without a warrant and put in jail for four months. He was president of the CSN Montreal central council until 1978.
During the 1980s, he took action for the rights of injured workers; he created the Fondation pour l’aide aux travailleuses et travailleurs accidentés (FATA) in 1984. He promoted progressive values and syndicalism in the media until the end of his life. He endorsed Québec solidaire.
Chartrand is considered to have been a promoter of socialism, a severe critic of capitalism, and a leading figure of syndicalism in Quebec. He was married to feminist writer and union activist Simonne Monet-Chartrand.
1916Dec, 20
Michel Chartrand
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Events on 1916
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Gallipoli Campaign
World War I: The Battle of Gallipoli concludes with an Ottoman Empire victory when the last Allied forces are evacuated from the peninsula. - 21Feb
Battle of Verdun
World War I: In France, the Battle of Verdun begins. - 25Feb
Battle of Verdun
World War I: The Germans capture Fort Douaumont during the Battle of Verdun. - 9Apr
Battle of Verdun
World War I: The Battle of Verdun: German forces launch their third offensive of the battle. - 31May
Battle of Jutland
World War I: Battle of Jutland: The British Grand Fleet under the command of John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe and David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty engage the Imperial German Navy under the command of Reinhard Scheer and Franz von Hipper in the largest naval battle of the war, which proves indecisive.