Date: 2023
Location: Edmonton
Profile: Teenage Desmond Francis arrived in Canada from Jamaica in 1972. He certified in welding to meet Canadian standards and headed for Alberta in 1976 to pursue a welding career. Starting at Fort McMurray during its ‘gravel road’ days, Francis worked as an operator engineer welding on dragline operations, and a pipefitter on specialized metals for major oil companies in Fort McMurray. He also served as job foreman for different jobs over 15 years.
The veteran unionist has served as union Steward, and on several union committees like Political Action and Elections for many years. He continues to represent pipefitters in caucuses and to attend union conventions and national meetings. During his long career, Francis also worked as a fitter and union steward in Texas where he stood up to racists and believes that he faced fewer repercussions than American Blanks would face because his Caribbean accent marked him out as a non-American Black person. Francis has maintained a very active community life in sports like cricket and in culture, while serving on Caribbean community boards.
Keywords: Apprenticeship; Bechtel; Bucketwheels; Business agent (union); Draglines; “House Union”; Industry qualifications; Kenney cuts; PCL; Syncrude.
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See also: Black Communities in Alberta; Oil Workers in Alberta; Systemic Racism in Alberta; United Association of Piping Trades