In 2005, at age 39, John Edmunds became one of the youngest labour leaders in Canada when elected National President of the Union of Solicitor General Employees.

John's election to our union's top position capped some 15 years of energy and activism on behalf of USGE members.  A skilled tradesperson, he went to work in 1990 as a PIP-9 for Correctional Service of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. (Indeed, inside the USGE, John continues to be affectionately known as 'The Plumber'.)

It was the issue of health and safety – always a priority for the membership – that first drew John into the USGE.  He was soon serving on the health and safety committee of Local 00014, which at the time represented staff of the now-closed Prison for Women, as well as CSC Ontario Regional Headquarters.  By 1992, he was serving on the Regional Health and Safety Committee.

John received his baptism by fire during the 1991 national federal public service strike. His efforts on behalf of the membership in this and other matters were recognized in 1993, when he was elected President of Local 00014. By his own admission, the new Local President was flying by the seat of his pants.

However, fly he did.  In 1998, a retirement saw John win a three-way race against two older and more experienced candidates to become Alternate Regional Vice-President for CSC members in Ontario. A year later, at the 1999 USGE National Convention, John was elected both Regional Vice-President and National Vice-President.

John was thrust firmly into the limelight when a medical emergency required that he act in his predecessor's place as Chair of the 2002 National Convention.  At the next triennial Convention, he was elected National President on the first ballot of a three-way race to hold our union's top post. John was subsequently acclaimed for a second term by delegates to the USGE’s 2008 National Convention.

As National President, John represents the interests of USGE members on the National Board of Directors of our bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.  He also serves on a number of committees and task forces for the PSAC.