Steelworker Honoured with 'Outstanding Contribution' Award

HAMILTON, ON, April 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Chris Carpenter, vice-president of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 16506, has received an international award for community service from the parent company of John Crane Canada Inc., where Carpenter has worked for 24 years as an operator/machinist programmer.

"Chris is an amazing example of our union's commitment to the communities in which we live and work," said USW Ontario Director Marty Warren. "Through our union's Young Worker Awareness Program, Chris has provided life-saving instruction to literally tens of thousands of high school students in the Hamilton and Halton area since 2000."

The award, given by Smiths Group, of which Crane is a division, also recognized innovation in developing a racking system, devised and implemented by Carpenter, along with other members of USW Local 16506.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Chris's work has been vital to keeping young workers healthy and safe when they enter the workforce," Warren said. "It is gratifying to all of us to know that Smiths Group has singled Chris out of its 23,000 employees worldwide for this honour. We are both proud of him and grateful for his activism."

Carpenter received the "Smiths Excellence Award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the communities in which we operate" at a gala ceremony in San Francisco.

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

Marty Warren, USW Ontario and Atlantic Canada Director, 416-243-8792; Sylvia Boyce, USW Ontario and Atlantic Health and Safety Coordinator, 416-544-5971, [email protected]; Chris Carpenter, USW Local 16506 Vice-President, 905-512-2530, [email protected]; Ken Neumann, USW National Director, 416-544-5951; Nancy Hutchison, USW Health, Safety and Environment, 416-544-6001, [email protected]; Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, [email protected]