Harold Chamberlain "Hal" Banks (February 28, 1909 – September 24, 1985) from Waterloo, Iowa was a controversial labour union leader in Canada. An American with mob connections, he came to Canada in 1949 to help bust purportedly Communist-controlled shipping unions and establish the Seafarers International Union as their replacement.

He remained in Canada until 1964, when he returned to the United States rather than face criminal charges stemming from a physical assault on a rival union leader. The Pearson government took control of the union and pressed charges against him. The Canadian government filed an extradition request, which was refused by President Lyndon Johnson.

In 1985, Canadian documentary filmmaker Donald Brittain made a film about Banks, Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks.^[1] Maury Chaykin played Banks in historical reenactments.

[edit] See also

• Canadian Merchant Navy
• Seafarers International Union of Canada
• Seafarers International Union of North America

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Canada's Sweetheart at the Internet Movie Database

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