Rob Ashton

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Rob Ashton
Rob Ashton at ONDP Convention, September 2025.jpg
Ashton in 2025
Occupation(s)Trade unionist; politician
Organization(s)International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada
Known forPresident of ILWU Canada; candidate in the 2026 NDP leadership election

Robert Tyler Earle Ashton is a Canadian trade unionist who serves as president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada. In October 2025, he announced his candidacy in the 2026 New Democratic Party leadership election. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and career

Ashton worked as a longshore worker for decades and rose through union ranks, including service as a business agent for ILWU Local 500 and later as vice president of ILWU Canada, before being elected president in 2016. In testimony to the House of Commons in 2024, he described ILWU Canada as representing roughly 16,000 workers across British Columbia and Saskatchewan. [3] [4]

Union leadership

Ashton is the president of ILWU Canada, a national labour union representing primarily dockworkers in ports and related sectors. [5] [6]

Political career

On October 1, 2025, Ashton launched his campaign for the federal NDP leadership, positioning himself as a "working-class" candidate focused on affordability, labour rights, and rebuilding domestic industry, including Canadian shipbuilding. [1] [4] He has argued the party should "put workers back in charge" and increase taxes on the wealthy. [7] [2]

Ashton participated in the first leadership forum hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress on October 22, 2025, alongside Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Tony McQuail and Tanille Johnston. [8] [9]

The party has scheduled the leadership vote for March 29, 2026, at its national convention in Winnipeg, following a campaign that began in September 2025. [10] [11] [12]

Political positions

In interviews and campaign materials, Ashton has emphasized re-centring the NDP on its labour base, taxing the wealthy, and expanding good-paying jobs in domestic industries such as shipbuilding. [1] [7] [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Legree, Davis (October 1, 2025). "Labour leader Rob Ashton looks to 'shake up' NDP leadership contest". iPolitics. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Savage, Luke (October 19, 2025). "Rob Ashton, Longshoreman vs. Canada's Political Class". Jacobin. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Mr. Robert Ashton (President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada)". OpenParliament. April 11, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "'I've had enough': dockworker and labour leader Rob Ashton wants to lead the federal NDP". Prince Albert Daily Herald. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Rob Ashton — President". ILWU Canada. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Contact Us". ILWU Canada. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Phan Nay, Isaac (October 6, 2025). "'We're All Getting Screwed. I've Had Enough'—A Tyee Q&A with Rob Ashton". The Tyee. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  8. ↑ "NDP leadership forum will see 5 candidates make their pitches". Global News. October 22, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  9. ↑ "NDP leadership candidates pitch 'straight-talk' solutions, valuing the base and inclusion to labour leaders at first forum". The Hill Times. October 22, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  10. ↑ "NDP members will choose their next leader in March 2026". New Democratic Party of Canada. July 11, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ "NDP releases official rules for leadership race to replace Singh". CityNews Winnipeg. July 25, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ Baxter, David (July 11, 2025). "NDP leadership to begin in September, new leader chosen no later than March 29". CHVN Radio (Canadian Press). Retrieved October 23, 2025.
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