Sidelined by health concerns, Jerry Dias has announced his retirement as president of Unifor, the union representing Canadian autoworkers and Canada’s largest private-sector union.
Dias announces retirement
Dias informed Unifor’s National Executive Board of his immediate retirement on Friday, March 11, 2022, having been on medical leave since February 6. The retirement comes five months ahead of his expected retirement at Unifor’s constitutional convention in Toronto in August.
Dias cited unspecified ongoing health issues as the reason for stepping down. However, the union president was under investigation for an alleged breach of the union’s constitution prior to his retirement, according to Automotive News Canada. The retirement announcement made no mention of the inquiry. Unifor’s National Executive Board is scheduled to discuss the investigation during their meeting on March 21.
“After eight and a half years I can proudly say we have built an incredible organization and made Unifor the influential and successful union it is today. I have all the confidence the leadership, staff and locals will continue to build Unifor into a bold and progressive force for working people from coast to coast,” said Dias, in a statement.
Unifor officials said they respected Dias’ decision to retire.
“On behalf of our members and our leadership team, we wish Jerry well and thank him for his numerous and impactful contributions to working people over many years, from his days representing aerospace workers on the shop floor to National President of Canada’s largest private sector union,” said Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne.
Ensuring a BEV future for Canadian plants
Dias, a former staff member of the Canadian Auto Wokers union, was instrumental in bringing about the merger of CAW and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union in 2013. He has served as Unifor, Canada largest private sector union, since its founding in 2013.
During his tenure as Unifor president, Dias concluded a round of bargaining in the autumn of 2020 in which General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles agreed to make major plant investments in Ontario. The negotiations also guaranteed the Canadian plants would have a role in building battery electric vehicles.
Under Dias, Unifor staged a four-week strike at a GM plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, disrupting the company’s plans to move part of the factory’s production to Mexico. The Ingersoll plant is now scheduled to begin building EV’s for BrightDrop, GM’s new commercial vehicle subsidiary, starting this fall.
Battled automakers
He also waged an aggressive campaign to keep open GM century-old plant in Oshawa, Ontario after GM announced in 2018 it was closing, going so far as to buy an ad on the Super Bowl telecast in Canada to criticize GM’s decision. In 2020, GM reversed the decision and reopened the Oshawa assembly plant to build pickup trucks.
Always outspoken and always an activist, Dias also campaigned for better working conditions for workers in Mexico, an effort that drew only tepid support from the United Auto Workers in the U.S.
The effort finally paid off last workers when workers at key GM plant in Silao, Mexcio voted to break the stranglehold an old-line union had over the labor relations at the plant and recognize a new union.
What’s next
The National Executive Board will meet in the coming days to determine next steps and discuss the Constitutional requirements around the vacancy.
