Hugh Wagner is the General Secretary of the Grain Services
Union (ILWU • Canada). He joined the GSU as a Staff
Representative in January 1975. In October 1977, Wagner was
appointed Secretary-Manager of the union which is the Chief Executive
Officer position in the organization. In 1994 the position became
an elected office of the union and the title was changed to General
Secretary.
Prior to joining the GSU, Wagner worked in the service sector, the
construction industry, and the provincial civil service in
Saskatchewan. He was raised in the small town of Macnutt,
Saskatchewan, where his family operated a small business.
Wagner obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from
the Regina Campus of the University of Saskatchewan. Subsequent
to joining the GSU, Wagner completed his thesis and obtained a Masters
Degree in Political Science from the University of Regina. In
addition to his duties with the Grain Services Union, Wagner represents
the union on a variety of committees, consultative bodies and labour
movement forums. He is a trustee of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool /
Grain Services Union Pension Plan; GSU’s delegate to the Western
Transportation Advisory Council; and a past Vice-President of the
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour. In addition, Wagner is a
member of the Executive Board of the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union - Canada; a member of the Board of Directors of the
Saskatchewan Labour Market Commission; a labour member of the
Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board; and a member of Enterprise
Saskatchewan.