O’Hanlon Receives Inaugural CWA Canada Award of Excellence

“Martin has devoted over 30 years to the labour movement and the improvement of worker’s rights. Martin stands by his beliefs without wavering. He lives and breathes his commitment to the betterment of unionized workers. His dedication is evident in his list of accomplishments. He has also dedicated a lot of time and effort to protect journalists and journalism, locally, nationally, and internationally. He has fought for the news industry in Canada. There is no one more deserving of this award than Martin.” – CWA Canada Vice-President Lois Kirkup

CWA Canada was the lucky recipient of three decades of energy that Martin O’Hanlon devoted to caring for his colleagues and profession.

For over 20 years before being elected CWA Canada president, Martin balanced a demanding career as a reporter and editor at The Canadian Press while raising three children with his wife Sue, with his passion for helping his colleagues.

An immigrant from Scotland, the fight to improve the lives of the working people was in his blood. His dedication and leadership enhanced the reputation of the union he helped create, and earned the admiration of Canada’s labour community, and the respect of journalists at home and abroad.

Unlike many of us who come to union work later in our careers, Martin saw the need early. He was a one of a handful of activists who founded both the Canadian Media Guild and CWA Canada.

Building the Canadian Media Guild
Martin started as volunteer president at the CMG’s Canadian Press Toronto unit. At CP he was an effective and outspoken leader who used his wit and considerable charm to wring improvements out of reluctant managers. He brought the same intellectual rigor and organizational skills to the leadership table at the Canadian Media Guild, where he served on the Executive Committee. For this work and his leadership skills he earned the CMG’s Award of Excellence in 2020.

Building CWA Canada
During the years of building the CMG, Martin worked closely with key leaders, including CBC Branch President Arnold Amber, to find a home with the Communication Workers of America that would give long-term financial security to the growing Guild. The pair were among the leaders who created CWA Canada as a means of ensuring Canadian members would have autonomy and control of their future within CWA. Martin led CWA Canada’s organizing efforts as chair of the Organizing Committee and helped bring in new members, including newsroom staff at the Regina Leader-Post. Later, as CWA Canada president, O’Hanlon put more resources into organizing and defending press freedom.

Earning National and International Respect
In subsequent years, Martin earned the respect of the labour community with his commitment to the Canadian Labour Congress. He sat on the CLC Canadian Council where he advocated for workers, especially those struggling with discrimination, racism, and precarious work.
Through all of this, Martin also participated the International Federation of Journalists, even running for the presidency. Here he made Canada proud, supporting efforts to help media workers in crisis, and to fight for press freedom around the world. He took this emotional work to heart, getting to know families personally, sending money and building support for media workers in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Political and Regulatory Advocacy for Media
During his long tenure as a union leader, Martin was an enthusiastic supporter of journalism advocacy groups. These largely non-profit groups depend on labour, industry, and community support to build respect for media workers. Martin worked closely with groups such as Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Canadian Association of Journalists to recognize and promote their crucial work.
He promoted improvements to pension plans, and lobbied governments for support for the media industry, and respect for press freedom.
His understanding of the media crisis contributed to the Public Policy Forum’s conclusion detailed in the “Shattered Mirror” report, that the industry desperately needed financial relief. Through this turbulent time, Martin’s relentless advocacy was instrumental in persuading the federal government to offer financial aid to the industry and to begin forcing the Internet giants to help pay for content creation in Canada.

Summary
For all these reasons, and more, we salute Martin O’Hanlon for his 33 years of union work and extend our gratitude for his inspiration and leadership.

In solidarity,

Carmel Smyth
President, CWA Canada
The Media Union