The labour movement was shocked at the sudden and unexpected passing of Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) National Representative Keith Kleinwachter on February 13.

Kleinwachter experienced a serious heart attack on February 10 and passed away two days later in hospital. He was only 49 years old. It was his second heart attack. He is survived by his wife and two sons, aged 21 and 22,

"He was a committed and hardworking man," says Don MacNeil, Administrative Vice-President for CEP in Alberta. "What happened was totally shocking. He was not even fifty yet."

Kleinwachter came to Alberta in the fall of 2000 in a CEP transfer from Ontario. He quickly made a mark on unionists in Alberta.

Which is no surprise to CEP representative Brian Campbell, who worked with Kleinwachter on an organizing drive at the Hibernia oil platform in Newfoundland. "He was dedicated to organizing people," Campbell says of Kleinwachter.

Kleinwachter started his work with the labour movement while an employee with Imperial Oil in Nanicoke Ontario. At the time, the Nanicoke plant was non-union – something Kleinwachter quickly remedied. He led an organizing drive which resulted in the certification of CEP at the plant.

From there the CEP sent him to Newfoundland to work on Hibernia – another successful union drive. At that point, he was offered a staff position with the union and started working out of Dryden Ontario. In September of 2000 he transferred to Alberta.

"He was a lot of fun to be around," says Campbell. This is a thought shared by almost everyone who came in contact with Kleinwachter.

"The labour movement is deeply saddened by the loss of Keith," says AFL President Les Steel. "He made a positive mark on our movement very quickly. And our thoughts go to his family."