33:
299:
In 2022, he was accused of accepting $ 50,000 from a pharmaceutical company in exchange for endorsing the company's COVID testing products to the union members' employers. Dias issued a public statement saying that he had entered a rehab programme, having abused alcohol and painkillers to deal with a
265:
In May 2019, Unifor held a joint news conference with GM to announce the footprint would be maintained in Oshawa, saving hundreds of jobs. The plant transitioned to parts manufacturing operations, producing service parts such as doors, hoods, fenders, tailgates, and deck lids, and during the COVID-19
257:
In 2018, Dias launched the ‘Save Oshawa GM’ campaign after
General Motors (GM) announced plans to end vehicle production in Oshawa after a century of operations. The campaign included mass protests, television commercials that aired on the Superbowl and the Grammys and a live concert by international
362:
Dias and his union publicly advocate for
Indigenous Reconciliation, racial equality, LGBT rights, gender equality and the elimination of violence against women. Under his leadership, Unifor’s groundbreaking Woman’s Advocate Program has expanded into workplaces across Canada. The union launched its
235:
Dias has been twice named among the country’s 50 most powerful people by
Maclean’s, in 2013 and most recently in 2020. He has been called the ‘5 billion blue-collar man’ in the Financial Post, one of the most fearsome people in the country by Sun News, and Canada’s most influential union leader by
274:
electric vehicle production at the FCA Windsor
Assembly Plant and Ford Oakville Assembly Complex. The investments included contributions from both the federal Liberal and Ontario Progressive Conservative governments. Dias also succeeded in returning vehicle assembly to Oshawa, Ontario with GM
322:
discussing trade unionism, which had already been produced and scheduled but had not yet aired when the allegations were publicized. In May 2023, the
Toronto Police and Unifor issued statements that Dias respectively would not be charged and would not be subject to further union proceedings.
220:(now Bombardier Aerospace). Dias became active in the labour movement at de Havilland, eventually following his father’s example as president of Local 112. He went on to join the union’s national staff as aerospace sector coordinator and ultimately became a senior assistant to CAW presidents
366:
A Board
Director at the Halton Women's Place, Dias leads a team each year at the shelter’s ‘Hope in High Heels’ walk to raise money and increase awareness of violence against women. As of 2020, Dias has raised more than $ 650,000 in support of the shelters run by Halton Women’s Place.
269:
In 2020, during negotiations with the
Detroit Three automakers, Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors, Dias secured nearly $ 6 billion in total investments for auto facilities across Canada, including $ 3.3 billion to introduce battery electric and
295:
On
February 6, 2022, Dias went on medical leave, and on March 11 he informed Unifor's executive board of an early retirement. On March 15, it was reported that Dias has been under investigation since January for "an alleged breach of the union's constitution."
253:
Dias assumed an active role in the USMCA as a consultant to the
Canadian government and negotiating team where he consistently pushed to raise labour standards domestically and internationally, maintain Canadian sovereignty and protect key domestic industries.
231:
As a young adult, he also spent time on the line at the
General Motors Canada Ltd. van assembly plant in Scarborough, Ontario. In 1984, he ended up on strike in the labour dispute that led to the Canadian division of the UAW splitting off and forming the CAW.
195:
Since then Unifor has grown to represent more than 315,000 workers in every major sector of the Canadian economy. As National President of the largest private sector union in Canada, Dias advocates for workers’ rights, equality and social justice.
199:
Dias was re-elected to his post in 2016 and 2019. On March 13, 2022, he announced his immediate retirement for health reasons. Shortly after, he was accused of taking a $ 50,000 bribe from COVID-19 test manufacturers in January. He was succeeded by
292:, Dias led the campaign for stronger wage subsidies for unemployed workers, increased regulation and improved staffing and working conditions in long-term care facilities, and higher pay for essential frontline workers in health care and retail.
275:
investing an estimated $ 1.3 billion to retool the plant to build Silverado and Sierra models. The investment solidifies the Oshawa complex as GM’s only North American plant to actively build both light and heavy duty pickup trucks.
350:
As a leader in third party advertising during the 2015 federal election campaign, Dias publicly jousted with Stephen Harper’s government with Unifor playing a major role in the defeat of high profile Conservative candidates.
331:
Under Dias Unifor has been politically active in provincial and federal elections. The union is not affiliated with a specific political party and often encourages strategic voting determined on worker and social issues.
216:, Ontario, as one of 4 children of Juliet Mary (1931-2015) and Jerry Sr. who were both labour activists. He attended Neil McNeil High School, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and York University in Toronto before starting work at
335:
In February 2014, Dias challenged Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak to a debate and campaigned against Hudak policies in the June 2014 election in which Hudak was defeated and ultimately resigned.
236:
Ottawa Life. He was also named the Toronto Star Wheels’ Newsmaker of the Year in 2016 and 2020, one of CTV’s Don Martin's political power players of 2018, and is a multiple Automotive News All Star.
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817:
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Dias also battled Conservative leader Andrew Scheer in the run up to the 2019 federal election, calling for a strategic vote against Conservative candidates across the country.
285:
Following a bitter six-month long labour dispute with Co-op, predominately over pensions, Unifor was successful in maintaining the defined benefit plans for its members.
247:
Dias has been vocal on emerging labour issues including precarious work, youth unemployment and underemployment, growing income inequality and lack of work-life balance.
938:
728:
278:
Dias was arrested and jailed in January 2020 at a picket line at the Co-op Refinery in Regina, Saskatchewan. The first Canadian labour leader jailed since
807:
630:
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An effective negotiator, Dias has taken on corporate giants to secure good jobs for members and create the economic basis for increased living standards.
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593:"Jerry Dias, Unifor president, brought in as 'legitimate stakeholder' on NAFTA negotiations - National | Globalnews.ca"
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687:
857:
688:"'A failed venture': Unifor president says Canada needs better long-term care system - National | Globalnews.ca"
649:
566:
494:
918:
752:"Former Unifor boss Jerry Dias accepted $ 50,000 from supplier of COVID-19 rapid-test kits, union alleges"
386:"New super-union Unifor's first president vows to start pushing back if governments, employers don't heed"
301:
439:
185:
95:
928:
314:
180:(born October 10, 1958) is a Canadian trade unionist who was elected the first national president of
456:
Jerry Dias, the influential labour leader who has long guided Canada's largest private sector union.
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problem relating to sciatic nerve pain, which he claimed had impaired his judgment. On April 4, the
867:
803:
279:
201:
87:
592:
812:
319:
510:"Jerry Dias brings decades of front-line experience in bid to lead Canada's new superunion"
305:
225:
840:"TVO pulls Jerry Dias episode of ‘Political Blind Date’ amid breach of trust controversy"
271:
650:"Unifor president arrested during blockade of Regina's Co-op Refinery | Globalnews.ca"
422:"Jerry Dias acclaimed as Unifor president for third and final term - CityNews Toronto"
907:
340:
221:
808:"Toronto police's financial crimes unit to investigate former union head Jerry Dias"
669:"Liberals to replace CERB with new benefit, simplified EI program at cost of $ 37B"
217:
184:
in August 2013 at the union’s founding convention following the merger between the
858:"No charges against former Unifor head Jerry Dias following bribery investigation"
778:"A bag of cash and a bottle of cologne: Inside the undoing of Unifor's Jerry Dias"
631:"GM to reopen Oshawa plant to make trucks, hiring up to 2,500 workers, says union"
470:"A bag of cash and a bottle of cologne: Inside the undoing of Unifor's Jerry Dias"
344:
308:
unit had opened an investigation into the matter. The allegations also caused
309:
495:"Obituary of Mary "Juliet" Dias | DeStefano Funeral Home Services Inc"
729:"Jerry Dias under investigation by Unifor for alleged constitution breach"
343:
in the 2015 and 2019 Alberta elections and also campaigned for NDP leader
862:
213:
147:
143:
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707:"Jerry Dias: Through this pandemic, workers will exercise their power"
181:
52:
404:"CAW's Jerry Dias first president of Unifor, merger of CAW and CEP"
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to pull a scheduled episode of its television documentary series
529:"Toronto Star Wheels 2020 Newsmaker of the Year: Jerry Dias"
890:"Jerry Dias wants to make an enemy out of Andrew Scheer"
190:
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
612:"Sting's concert in Oshawa was a grenade tossed at GM"
440:"Unifor head Jerry Dias retires, citing health issues"
228:
prior to his election as Unifor national president.
722:
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258:recording artist Sting and the cast of his musical
154:
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93:
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50:
23:
347:in the 2017 and 2020 British Columbia elections.
548:"Don Martin's 5 political power players of 2018"
567:"Interview with Unifor's President Jerry Dias"
262:performed in solidarity with Unifor members.
8:
527:Wallcraft, Stephanie (December 24, 2020).
266:outbreak medical masks for Health Canada.
31:
20:
339:Provincially Unifor supported NDP leader
239:Dias is of Portuguese-Guyanese ancestry.
65:August 31, 2013 – March 13, 2022
888:Taylor-Vaisey, Nick (August 22, 2019).
776:Subramaniam, Vanmala (March 25, 2022).
750:Subramaniam, Vanmala (March 24, 2022).
468:Subramaniam, Vanmala (March 25, 2022).
376:
428:. The Canadian Press. August 20, 2019.
939:Canadian people of Portuguese descent
629:Shecter, Barbara (November 5, 2020).
546:Gilmore, Rachel (December 21, 2018).
7:
739:from the original on March 14, 2022.
610:DiManno, Rosie (February 14, 2019).
384:Alphen, Tony Van (August 31, 2013).
686:Britneff, Beatrice (May 24, 2020).
571:Portuguese Canadian History Project
16:Canadian trade unionist (born 1958)
820:from the original on April 6, 2022
648:Baxter, David (January 20, 2020).
591:Smith, Joanna (October 24, 2017).
14:
705:Dias, Jerry (September 5, 2020).
667:Press, Jordan (August 20, 2020).
363:Racial Advocate Program in 2020.
565:Fernandes, Gil (May 17, 2016).
508:Keenan, Greg (August 8, 2013).
1:
727:Saba, Rosa (March 14, 2022).
944:Canadian trade union leaders
914:Trade unionists from Ontario
39:Ontario Federation of Labour
934:People from Milton, Ontario
856:Saba, Rosa (May 25, 2023).
960:
280:Jean-Claude Parrot in 1979
208:Early life and background
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114:
103:
58:
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30:
784:. The Globe and Mail Inc
924:Activists from Toronto
302:Toronto Police Service
675:. The Canadian Press.
599:. The Canadian Press.
318:, featuring Dias and
218:de Havilland Aircraft
186:Canadian Auto Workers
96:Canadian Auto Workers
315:Political Blind Date
204:on August 10, 2022.
76:Position established
426:toronto.citynews.ca
868:The Canadian Press
804:The Canadian Press
756:The Globe and Mail
514:The Globe and Mail
474:The Globe and Mail
410:. August 31, 2013.
178:Jerome P. Dias Jr.
128:Jerome P. Dias Jr.
806:(April 5, 2022).
290:COVID-19 pandemic
212:Dias was born in
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51:1st President of
37:Dias at the 2013
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838:Liam McConnell,
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813:CTV News Toronto
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390:The Toronto Star
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327:Political action
320:Monte McNaughton
306:financial crimes
304:stated that its
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138:October 10, 1958
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119:Personal details
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99:for Local 112
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94:President of
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871:. Retrieved
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161:Union leader
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83:Succeeded by
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929:1958 births
733:thestar.com
692:Global News
654:Global News
597:Global News
345:John Horgan
288:During the
71:Preceded by
908:Categories
371:References
202:Lana Payne
155:Profession
134:1958-10-10
88:Lana Payne
41:convention
25:Jerry Dias
894:Maclean's
844:In Durham
788:March 25,
761:March 25,
576:March 25,
479:March 26,
450:March 13,
310:TVOntario
110:1987–1993
106:In office
61:In office
863:CBC News
818:Archived
737:Archived
444:CBC News
188:and the
150:, Canada
873:May 25,
408:CTVNews
214:Toronto
148:Ontario
144:Toronto
824:May 9,
182:Unifor
53:Unifor
875:2023
826:2022
790:2022
763:2022
673:CP24
578:2022
481:2022
452:2022
224:and
124:Born
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