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With his family sitting among the thousands of Unifor Convention delegates, Rob Giroux accepted the 2025 Bud Jimmerfield Award, recognizing his decades of activism and commitment to advancing worker health and safety.
“It is impossible to count the lives saved or the illnesses and accidents prevented, but we know that workplaces are safer because of the hard work done by Rob Giroux,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Thank you for your tireless commitment to your fellow workers, for sharing your knowledge through education and for mentoring and inspiring the union’s next health and safety activists.”
Rob’s path to activism started more than 40 years ago when he and a co-worker were nearly killed in a confined space aboard a ship. When the employer was not willing to address the incident properly, he contacted WorkSafeBC and advocated for confined space gas testing and confined space outside attendant duties which were implemented in his workplace despite heavy resistance from his employer.
“Many workers are confronted with irresponsible and even criminal employers who do not take worker health and safety as the lawful duty it is, and it’s workers like Rob with the persistence to keep up the fight, who make a difference for us all,” said Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.
Since first speaking out, Rob has successfully fought to overturn unjust disciplinary actions taken against him and his colleagues in retaliation for their health and safety activism. According to Unifor Director of Health, Safety and Environment Joanne Hay, this success is due to his strong understanding of his rights.
“Rob is confident in the laws and regulations that protect workers and is unafraid to face and educate employers who go against them,” said Hay. “Rob’s success is due to his diligence, hard work, and his determination to defend workers’ rights. You can tell that he loves people and wants the best for everyone and we are so fortunate to have Rob as a health and safety leader and educator.”
Outside the workplace, Rob is just as committed, having a combined 38 years of service in his local volunteer fire department and search and rescue. Rob recently completed his Advanced Level 3 First Aid certification to better support his workplace and uses his skills to act as the Deputy Fire Chief at Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Ltd. mill in Port Mellon, British Columbia.
