Later this week, the United Way and the Windsor and District Labour Council will honour arts professor at the University of Windsor, Brian E. Brown for his contributions to the labour movement.
Brown is this year's recipient of the Charles E. Brooks Labour Community Service Award.
He'll be recognized Friday, November 18 at the 39th Annual Labour Appreciation Night at the Caboto Club.
This year's event will for the first time feature a keynote speaker from outside the labour movement. Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Matt Marchand will speak along with Essex MP Tracey Ramsey.
Brown started his career as a sessional instructor at the School of Visual Arts at the University of Windsor in 1977.
At the time, sessional members had no benefits, no pension plan and no seniority. Brown worked with the membership to establish rights, benefits, better wages and seniority.
Brown has served as the president of the Windsor University Faculty Association, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations and with the Canadian Association of University Teachers Defence Fund.
His dedication to progress for workers has extended beyond the University too. He's an active member of the Windsor and District Labour Council, working shoulder to shoulder with other leaders in the labour movement locally.
In the past, Brown was the first recipient of the Windsor and District Labour Council's Education Advocacy Award. In 2010, he received the OCUFA Lorimer Award for improving the terms and conditions of employment in Ontario universities. Last year, the Organization of Part-Time Students honoured him with their Teacher of the Year Award.
The Charles E. Brooks Award is named after former CAW Local 444 President Charlie Brooks who was gunned down in his office in 1977.