Lee Loftus Interview: Leadership in Unions, Safety, and Climate Action
In this far-reaching conversation, Lee Loftus discusses his experiences as a third-generation insulator, and union member and executive with the Heat and Frost Insulators Union Local 118 in British Columbia.
This interview was conducted by Ken Novakowski on March 19, 2024 in Burnaby, BC. It is part of our Oral History Collection.
In this far-reaching conversation, Lee Loftus discusses his experiences as a third-generation insulator, and union member and executive with the Heat and Frost Insulators Union Local 118 in British Columbia.
Throughout his career, he was involved in negotiating pension plans, working to make regulatory changes to improve union contracts, coping with the impacts of B.C. Labour Code changes in the mid-1980s, and helping to create the Canadian Federation of Labour – then later rejoining the Canadian Labour Congress.
Lee calls himself a “climate zealot” and explains how the construction industry has a large potential role in mitigating and coping with climate change. A prominent anti-asbestos advocate, he speaks about his experiences with asbestos and his ongoing activism to protect workers and their families. He also discusses his participation in developing the Construction Rehab Plan, and his lifelong commitment to adult education.