John L. Fryer is an internationally respected and widely consulted authority on a variety of public policy issues. Specializing in labour/management relations, collective bargaining, conflict resolution and human resource issues, his particular field of expertise is the public sector.
Following graduation from the London School of Economics John has been, in turn, a correspondent for the 'Economist' magazine, a public sector trade union leader, a popular professor in the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration, a senior government official and currently an international consultant on public policy issues.
From 1999 through 2001, John chaired the ten member Advisory Commission on Labour Management Relations in the Federal public service. Known as the ‘Fryer Report’, this Commission’s second report, entitled “Working Together in the Public Interest” contained 33 unanimous recommendations for making federal government labour relations more inclusive and less confrontational.
Following the election of Nelson Mandela and the ANC in 1994, John was sent by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to assist the new government of South Africa to develop modern labour relations policies. From 1985 to 1993, he served as the Canadian Vice President of the 20 million member Public Services International (PSI) based in Geneva.
In 1998 John was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister in the British Columbia public service with responsibility for the Crown Corporations Secretariat - an oversight agency for the province’s numerous crown corporations.
In 2003-04 John was at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C. serving as a Special Advisor on Public Sector Reform. In 2005-06 John spent time in both Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago working on trade union capacity building.
John’s public service was recognized in 1994 when he was awarded Canada’s highest civilian honour. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada “for his bargaining skills and contribution to economic and social justice”. And in 1995 he was honoured with the Gerard Dion Award of the Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA/ACRI) for his “outstanding contributions to Canadian labour relations”. John was also awarded both the Queen Elizabeth’s Silver and Gold Jubilee Medals for his public service.
Currently John keeps busy with his consulting practice and volunteer activities. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria and a member of the MBA review panel at Royal Roads University. He often serves as an expert witness in public sector cases. Well travelled, he has visited more than sixty countries. He keeps promising that his next big project is some memoirs. Living with his wife Brenda Bysouth in Victoria, he is near his six children and ten grandchildren. He enjoys growing veggies, taking walks on the beach, driving his vintage Morris Oxford, or riding his motorcycle on sunny days.
BIOGRAPHIE
John L. Fryer est un spécialiste très sollicité jouissant d'une réputation internationale en matière de relations de travail et de ressources humaines. Sa spécialité est le secteur public.
Depuis l’obtention de son diplôme de la London School of Economics, il a été tour à tour correspondant pour la revue The Economist, chef d’organisations syndicales du secteur public (il a été secrétaire-général du Syndicat des fonctionnaires provinciaux de la ColombieBritannique de 1969 à 1983 et président du deuxième plus important syndicat au Canada, le Syndicat national des employées et employés généraux du secteur public qui compte 350 000 membres, de 1980 à 1990) et professeur adjoint tres populaire à l’École d’administration publique de l’Université de Victoria depuis 1991.
En 1994, l’Organisation internationale du Travail l’envoie en Afrique du Sud aider le nouveau gouvernement, dirigé par Nelson Mandela, à établir des relations de travail modernes. De 1985 à 1993,il occupe le poste de vice-président canadien de l’Internationale des services publics (ISP), qui a son siège à Genève et qui compte 20 millions de membres.
En 1998, il est nommé sous ministre adjoint responsable du Secrétariat des sociétés d’État au sein du gouvernement de la ColombieBritannique et en 20002001, il préside le Comité consultatif sur les relations patronales-syndicales dans la fonction publique fédérale.
En 1994, « ses compétences en négociation et sa contribution à la justice économique et sociale » lui valent de devenir membre de l’Ordre du Canada. En 1995, l’Association canadienne des relations industrielles lui décerne le prix Gérard Dion (CIRA/ACRI) pour avoir « contribué de manière exceptionnelle à l’avancement des relations de travail au Canada ».
John demeure avec sa femme Brenda Bysouth à Victoria, où vivent également ses six enfants et dix petits enfants. Il aime faire de longues promenades à pied ainsi que conduire sa motocyclette ou sa voiture d’époque Morris Oxford dont le volant se trouve du mauvais côté.
© 2005-2010 John L. Fryer