OPSEU/SEFPO’s Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW) sadly announces the passing of a dear friend and confidant. Jennifer Reid died in her sleep on March 29, 2022. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Jennifer was taught at an early age to be a social justice advocate. Her father worked for the Jamaican government as the person responsible for supporting people who were disadvantaged, poor, homeless, abused and orphaned.
Jennifer became involved in OPSEU/SEFPO when she moved to London and started attending regional educationals. She had four children and the availability of childcare at OPSEU/SEFPO events played an important role in how she flourished as a union activist. She eventually held various positions in Local 105 (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation – MPAC) such as a steward, secretary and as president until her retirement in 2014. As local president, she led her members during the 1995 strike. Jennifer also sat on the Employee Relations Committee, and she was part of the joint committees that the Rae government established in the early 1990s. She was elected to the negotiations team during the divestment process, and she was eventually elected to the first bargaining team. Jennifer was re-elected several times from 1999-2005 and she was also chair of the bargaining team when MPAC negotiated its second contract.
Jennifer joined OPSEU/SEFPO’s Coalition of Racialized Workers (formerly the Workers of Colour Caucus) in 2005 and was the group’s secretary for many years. During her time with CoRW, Jennifer was instrumental in the early days of Caribana when the group was not in the parade. She also played an important role in the implementation of the OPSEU/SEFPO Social Mapping Project when the first survey was released back in 2010.
Her peers past and present will fondly remember her spirit and extreme grace under pressure. She was not intimidated by any challenges that came her way but rather reveled in it with a certain level of poise and calm that one would only admire. Jennifer held her faith close to her heart and she lived her life in a way that greatly represented her beliefs.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 11 am at the Westview Funeral Chapel in London.
Click here for more information: https://www.westviewfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/jennifer-reid/
