Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne has entered the race to exchange former President Jerry Dias as head of Canada’s largest personal sector union.

Payne, who has overseen the union’s monetary affairs since being elected secretary-treasurer in 2019, is amongst Unifor’s highest-ranking officers. She sits on the Nationwide Government Board (NEB) and is one in every of 4 members of the union’s present elected management crew, following Dias’ abrupt retirement March 11.

Previous to being elected secretary-treasurer, Payne served as Unifor’s Atlantic director. She has spent greater than 30 years within the labour realm, becoming a member of the Fish, Meals and Allied Employees union — then affiliated with the Canadian Auto Employees — in 1991.

Payne introduced her candidacy by way of Fb April 12.

“These previous months have been tough, however they’ve additionally given me a brand new sense of resolve about the way forward for our union and the form of management we might want to redress the harm, rebuild belief, and construct the hope and confidence we might want to tackle the various fights forward,” she mentioned.

Payne joins Scott Doherty, government assistant to Unifor’s nationwide president, and Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Native 444, which represents staff at Stellantis’ Windsor, Ont. Meeting Plant. The pair each declared in February they might run to exchange Dias.

Dias had been anticipated to retire at Unifor’s constitutional conference in August, however went on depart Feb. 6 and retired a month later, citing medical issues.

On March 14, alongside Unifor’s three regional administrators, Payne detailed NEB allegations that Dias accepted $50,000 from a provider of COVID-19 check kits that he had helped promote to Unifor employers in December 2021 and January 2022. The NEB plans to carry a listening to into the matter, pending Dias’ well being. The previous union chief mentioned he was getting into rehabilitation for dependancy March 14.

The Toronto Police Service mentioned April 5 its Monetary Crimes Unit was investigating the previous labour chief.

Dias’ departure will even drive the union to carry a particular conference to fill the vacant president position forward of the deliberate vote in August. The union, which represents 315,000 staff in Canada, together with roughly 40,000 at auto elements suppliers and car meeting vegetation, has not but launched a agency timeline or any particulars on how the vote will likely be held.

Payne’s entry into the race disrupts the NEB’s earlier endorsement of Doherty.

On April 12, Doherty mentioned he requested the NEB to take away its endorsement on account of Payne’s declaration.

“I felt making this request was in the most effective curiosity of our Nationwide Government Board and membership,” Doherty mentioned in an announcement posted to Twitter.