Unifor president Jerry Dias takes medical leave to deal with health issues

Unifor Nationwide President Jerry Dias mentioned Wednesday he takes day without work to take care of well being points.

The pinnacle of the union that represents hourly employees at Detroit Three vegetation in Canada and hundreds of employees at Canadian auto components services, is at the moment serving a 3rd and last time period as head of Unifor.

“To my Unifor household: My Twitter account will likely be just a little quiet for some time. I’m taking a while off to take care of some well being points,” Dias mentioned in a tweet Wednesday afternoon. He added he had “each confidence” within the union’s management workforce and workers throughout his absence.

Whereas Dias, 63, introduced the depart of absence Feb. 16, a memo to union locals and workers exhibits he has been on depart since Feb. 6. The memo from Nationwide Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne provides Dias “didn’t make the choice to take this depart simply.”

Dias has mentioned he’ll retire later this yr versus stand for re-election. He can have spent 9 years as Unifor’s head, serving for the reason that union was fashioned in 2013 by the merger of the Canadian Auto Staff union and the Communications, Power and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

Dias can also be at the moment engaged in countering U.S. protectionism, serving as chair of an Ontario Premier’s Council fashioned in response to American threats to Canada’s auto sector.

The union mentioned Unifor’s assistant to the nationwide president, Shane Wark, is taking the lead on auto trade issues in Dias’ absence.

Unifor is the predominant union for employees in Canada’s auto trade, representing 40,000 employees in auto meeting, components and automobile dealership.