Three longtime labour leaders have declared their candidacy to turn out to be the subsequent president of Unifor because the union navigates its first, and more and more complicated, management transition.

Fashioned from the 2013 merger of the Canadian Auto Employees (CAW) and the Communications, Power and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), Unifor represents 315,000 staff in Canada. That features about 40,000 at auto elements suppliers and car meeting crops.

Till his abrupt March 11 retirement, former President Jerry Dias had helmed the union via its whole historical past. Whereas Dias had been scheduled to retire from the highest put up in August, allegations about his conduct have wracked the union and sophisticated the timeline for electing a successor. In March, Unifor’s 25-member Nationwide Govt Board (NEB) alleged Dias accepted $50,000 from a provider of COVID-19 check kits he had helped promote to union employers. A listening to that might see the previous chief stripped of his union membership is deliberate for a later date. 

Unifor was initially planning to carry a particular conference to interchange Dias this spring. Citing the added bills of an early election, nevertheless, the NEB voted Could 6 to go away the management place vacant till the union’s constitutional conference, which was already deliberate for August.

Given the bizarre circumstances surrounding Dias’ departure, the union’s NEB will abstain from endorsing a candidate for the primary time in its historical past, leaving the three candidates free to marketing campaign and face off on the conference ground this summer season for the highest job.

Automotive Information Canada spoke with them about their expertise, motivations for operating and plans for the union.

DAVE CASSIDY

As president of Unifor Native 444, Dave Cassidy stated his focus is on partaking, empowering and supporting particular person members. If elected to go the union nationally, he plans to hold ahead this identical open-door coverage.

“I’m a grassroots-type man. … I’m going to carry that to Toronto [union headquarters] as nicely,” he stated. “We have now to interact with our rank-and-file members, and we’ve misplaced that.”

The 54-year-old Windsor, Ont., native started his profession as an apprentice electrician and in 1993 was employed by Chrysler Canada. Cassidy was elected to varied positions throughout the skilled-trades ranks on the Windsor Meeting Plant earlier than being appointed monetary secretary of Native 444 in 2009. In 2018, he took over as president of the native, which represents staff on the plant, now a part of Stellantis, and a spread of different auto and nonauto employers within the space.

Since Unifor’s formation, Cassidy has additionally served on the NEB as a consultant for the expert trades.

Cassidy stated he has contemplated a run for the nationwide presidency for a while and acquired encouragement from supporters throughout the nation late final 12 months as Dias’ retirement neared. Whereas Cassidy sought Dias’ endorsement, he in the end gave the nod to Scott Doherty, his govt assistant.

Given the allegations towards Dias, Cassidy stated, it’s necessary to reengage with members and restore belief within the nationwide group.

“That’s how we transfer ahead previous this: Put checks and balances in place … take a look at greatest practices and simply be clear with our membership,” he stated.

Long run, Cassidy stated he would focus on enhancing union organizing to maintain Unifor rising, in addition to collective bargaining to make sure current members preserve job safety.

SCOTT DOHERTY

Having spent the previous eight years working alongside Dias and different union leaders on a spread of serious contracts, Scott Doherty, govt assistant to the nationwide president, stated he brings the management, administrative and team-building expertise required to go Unifor.

The union’s management staff, made up of its elected officers and 5 assistants, unanimously backed Doherty for the presidency Jan. 19, and the NEB seconded the endorsement Feb. 1. However with the disruptive allegations about Dias after which Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne publicly getting into the race April 12, Doherty requested the NEB to withdraw its the nomination to keep away from dividing the board.

Doherty expects a “vigorous” marketing campaign however stated he’s centered on tackling points that Unifor and its members face, akin to report inflation, lingering COVID-19 issues and damaged belief with union members tied to the Dias allegations.

“We simply have to buckle down and get again to doing the work of our group and construct again the belief,” he stated.

Doherty, 52, has led latest rounds of bargaining within the forestry, telecom and vitality sectors and brought on a sequence of roles all through the previous two rounds of auto talks with the Detroit Three in Canada.

Having gotten an early begin in labour with each the CAW and CEP in positions on Canada’s West Coast, the Campbell River, B.C., native grew to become president of CEP Native 1123, a member of the nationwide govt board and ultimately a nationwide consultant in 2008.

When Unifor was fashioned in 2013, Doherty was elected western regional director. In 2014, he was appointed assistant to the nationwide president and a 12 months later promoted to govt assistant.

Referencing Dias, Doherty stated Unifor should set up safeguards to guard towards moral breaches, whereas additionally methods to generate progress for the union via group.

LANA PAYNE

The previous three months “modified the whole lot” for Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne.

Elected to the put up in 2019 after two phrases as Atlantic director, Payne, 56, stated she has had a hand in a broad vary of union actions. They embody watching over Unifor’s funds, steering its pandemic response and taking part in sure bargaining rounds, such because the 2020 auto talks with the Detroit Three. She additionally oversaw the delicate, monthslong exterior investigation into Dias.

In January, Payne had endorsed Doherty to be Unifor’s subsequent president. After taking time to “pause and replicate” on the Dias allegations, nevertheless, she entered the race in April.

“I consider that at this cut-off date, our union wants the form of management that I can provide, the form of expertise that I’ve had coping with disaster,” she stated.

Payne, who grew up in Deer Lake, Nfld., stated the union’s instant focus must be on transparency, rebuilding belief and enacting new processes to deal with misconduct.

“I can lead the union within the course the place we’re not in a spot the place we simply stick with it as enterprise as normal, as a result of I believe that might be a mistake,” she stated. “There’s redress and handle that should occur right here.”

Having began her profession in labour with the Fish, Meals and Allied Employees Union, then affiliated with the CAW, Payne progressed via an extended record of positions inside her native earlier than being elected president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour in 2008. She was elected Atlantic director when Unifor was fashioned in 2013.   

With an emphasis on accountability and open dialogue with locals, Payne stated she would carry a brand new strategy to the workplace of president.

“I believe it’s OK in moments like these to have a distinct form of management and to offer one thing completely different to the members.”