Francis M. (F.M.) Bell

Chair of Finance, Administration and Staffing

F.M. Bell is a labour representative currently a member of OPSEU Local 701. He was appointed to the Board of NSWPB by the TBDLC.

Francis has a long history of representing workers' interests and has served at all levels in many organizations. Those responsibilities include President of USWA LU 8126, President NWOSAC, 2nd Vice-President of the Thunder Bay & District Labour Council (TBDLC) and is the current Treasurer of TBDLC serving his fourth consecutive two-year term.

Francis is self-identified as a Person with a Disability. As a former underground miner who had to adjust to devastating injuries, he became an advocate of the disabled. those roles saw Francis become active in disability issues and returned the assistance he was given by becoming an advocate specializing in disabled workers. FMB was a founding member in the establishment of a number of organizations that assisted those with disabilities.

Francis is a member of the Human Resource Professionals Association of Ontario, Thunder Bay Chapter. Francis is also a former trainer who has used adult training methods for training injured workers in their rights and obligations with WSIB. Francis is also a graduate of the Labour College of Canada, 1984.

The Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, New Directions Workers Resource Centre and the Workers Health and Safety Centre have recognized Francis's societal contributions. On Labour Day of 2009, Frances was presented with the Labour Person of the Year award.

Francis previously served NSWPB as Labour Co-Chair and continues to Chair the By-Law Committee. This is his second stint as Chair of the FAS Committee.