Suzie Fawcett
Susan “Suzie” Fawcett nee MacDonald (24 January 1907 – 18 January 1990) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. She came to Vancouver, Canada in 1929 to join her sister, Margaret. She was trained as a secretary but took work as a companion for a short time and then a salad maker at the Hotel Vancouver. One year later, she married bailiff Frederick Arthur Fawcett. Suzie raised her two children while working full-time. In 1942 the HREU tried to organize the hotel but their efforts were crushed and the organizers fired. This strengthened the resolve of the remaining staff members. In 1950, the hotel workers struck in solidarity with other workers in the Canadian Broterhood of Railway and Transport and General Workers. The union improved their wages. Suzie was Secretary-Treasurer of the Local and represented the union at the Canadian Labour Congress and B.C. Federation of Labour conventions. She held numerous executive posts while continuing to work in the cafeteria at the hotel. The family settled in North Vancouver. Suzie passed away there at 83 years old.