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| Jerry Diaz |
The merger of the Canadian Auto Workers Union and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union has created the country’s largest private industry union. At the founding convention Saturday in Toronto, Jerry Dias was elected president of Unifor. Mr. Dias had huge support in the voting, garnering some 87 percent of member support at the convention. He addressed the unionists and later issued a release: “Unifor is here because it’s time to stop playing defence and it’s time we started to play offence. It’s time to stop reacting and it’s time to start setting the agenda.” The new leader seems to be especially bitter about the federal government. ”The Conservative government has decided to challenge our democratic right to organize and collect dues. They are singling out unions. They’re attacking our finances. They’re attacking our ability to represent our members,” said Mr. Dias.
