A giant in the local labour community has died.
Rolly Marentette passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer.
He served for several years as chair of the Windsor District Labour Council's Health and Safety Committee and spearheaded National Day of Mourning celebrations for those injured or killed on the job, while also advocating for improvements to workplace safety.
Former CAW National President Ken Lewenza worked with Rolly for years when both were with CAW Local 444. He says Rolly's legacy is his advocacy for injured workers. "As a result of his work, as a result of his advocacy work in this area, we have a number of people that have taken on the role as an advocacy for injured workers, started by Rolly Marentette."
"This guy was the conscience of health and safety in the community," says Lewenza. "He was the conscience of advocating for injured workers. He was the face of those that was most vulnerable relative to injures in the workplace."
Lewenza says Rolly never hesitated to express his opinion, to push the agenda on important issues and push the leadership of the union." Rolly spoke his mind but he did it was passion and with respect and he did it, quite frankly, inspirational to many of us in a leadership role. Rolly was an inspiration to all of us."
Several unions and community leaders took to Twitter to express their condolences following his passing.
Windsor/Essex has lost a Labour Giant. Rolly Marentette fought tirelessly for injured workers. Rest in peace my friend. @LOCAL444UNIFOR pic.twitter.com/QsHiw0eVuP
— Tracey Ramsey (@traceyram) May 25, 2017
Unifor Local 444 is saddened by the loss of one of our long time Health & Safety labour activists, and local 444... https://t.co/5SuD3CDgQE
— Local 444 Unifor (@LOCAL444UNIFOR) May 25, 2017