It is with deep sorrow that we announce the recent passing of Jim Streb, a tireless advocate for workers’ rights and social justice, who served as President of the Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU) and the York University Staff Association (YUSA).
Jim was born in 1952 in St. Louis, Missouri to Helen (Brisbin) and Victor Streb. From a very young age, Jim enjoyed just being outside, roaming the hillsides and waterways around his rural home in Oakville, Missouri with many neighbourhood friends and family.
While at York University in Toronto, Jim became a union steward for the York University Staff Association (YUSA), which deepened his commitment to the union movement and justice for workers. Stewardship led to Bargaining Chair and then being elected as the President of YUSA, a role in which he was honoured to hold for many terms. Every day, Jim left for work with a mission to make the workplace better for the YUSA members and their families.
This evolved outside of the York University circle when he was elected to be Vice President, and then President of the Confederation of Canadian Union (CCU), an organization to which he remained dedicated by writing articles for its publication, including his latest, “Democracy is not a Spectator Sport” in August of this year.
Jim was deeply committed to the activities and principles of both YUSA and the CCU throughout his retirement, taking part in a 2020 documentary, “YUSA – A Union Where Everyone Matters,” which highlighted the founding of the union and the role he played in building it, as well as participating in the 50th Anniversary convention of the CCU in Ottawa in October 2019.
Jim Streb was a true champion of the labour movement, known for his unwavering commitment to fairness, equality, and the empowerment of working people. Throughout his career, he embodied the principles of solidarity, integrity, and perseverance, making a profound impact not only on the organizations he led but on the broader labour union landscape of Canada.
A celebration of Jim’s love of life will be held on Saturday October 26, 2024, at Albion Hills Conservation Area, Chalet, 16500 Regional Road 50, Caledon ON from 11:30-3:00 with memories being shared at 12:30. If you have a funny story or memory about Jim to share, please send to jimstreb.memories@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation on behalf of Jim to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at: cpff.ca/donate or the Bruce Trail Conservancy at brucetrail.org/ways-to-give/ or any other charity that is meaningful to you.
