Unifor is a Canadian general trade union founded in 2013 as a merger of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions. It consists of 310,000 workers,and associate members in industries including manufacturing, media, aviation, forestry and fishing, making it the largest private sector union in Canada. In January 2018, the union left the Canadian Labour Congress, Canada's national trade union centre, to become independent.
The union elected Jerry Dias, a former union leader at de Havilland's facility in Downsview, as its first president on August 31, 2013. He announced his retirement on March 12, 2022, for health reasons.
Split from the Canadian Labour Congress
On January 16, 2018, the National Executive Board of Unifor decided unanimously to discontinue affiliation with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and become independent. In a notice posted on their website, they stated their reasons for the split were due to CLC and its affiliates lack of action and will in addressing alleged aggressive and undemocratic tactics of US-based unions towards Canadian locals. The...