Probe complicates auto legacy of Canadian labor chief Jerry Dias

Former Unifor President Jerry Dias constructed a substantial automotive legacy in his eight-plus years main the Canadian union.

Dias, who retired March 11, was influential in securing billions of {dollars} of investments for the nation’s meeting vegetation, serving to to safe a Canadian manufacturing footprint that had been in peril of collapsing.

He loudly advocated for auto employees as a participant in North American commerce talks throughout intense spats with automakers similar to General Motors.

However the longtime labor chief has exited underneath a cloud of controversy that threatens to tarnish that legacy.

A day after saying Dias’ sudden retirement due to well being points, Unifor stated its former chief was under investigation for an alleged breach of the union’s structure. The character of the allegation remains to be unknown.

The union didn’t present specifics, citing that the investigation was ongoing. Dias declined to remark to Automotive Information.

Dias, 63, went on medical go away Feb. 6, 11 days after the union started an unbiased exterior investigation after receiving a written grievance. He had been anticipated to retire later within the 12 months, following Unifor’s conference in August. He as an alternative did so this month.

Concentrate on auto

The controversy surrounding his retirement complicates a narrative of a protracted profession in union politics and main Canada’s largest private-sector union, which represents about 40,000 hourly auto employees.

Dias grew to become the primary nationwide president of Unifor in 2013, after the Canadian Auto Employees merged with the Communications, Power and Paperworkers Union of Canada. The union represents employees throughout a wide selection of sectors, from media to aviation, with auto employees making up about 13 % of whole membership.

Regardless of its comparatively small footprint within the union, the auto sector was a high precedence for Dias all through his tenure. Presenting himself publicly as a gruff, no-nonsense advocate for Canadian auto employees, Dias performed key roles in a number of rounds of negotiations with GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Vehicles.