Analysts say Windsor-Essex’s auto sector to remain strong despite Cassidy losing out on Unifor National presidency
Despite Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy being unsuccessful in his effort to become the union’s national president, industry experts say Windsor-Essex’s auto sector should not see any negative consequences to a non-local candidate losing out on the top post.
On Thursday, Unifor delegates voted to name Lana Payne, the union’s former secretary-treasurer, as national president. She was one of three candidates vying to replace Jerry Dias who stepped down earlier this year amid an investigation into an alleged kickback he received from a company supplying COVID-19 rapid test kits.
Payne defeated Dias’ former assistant Scott Doherty, along with Cassidy, for the post.
But despite the decision, former CAW president Ken Lewenza said the auto sector in Windsor-Essex will be advocated for at the same level as when Dias was president, no matter who is leading the union.
The union was formed out of Windsor. It came out of the Kelsey Hayes facility,” said Lewenza.
“We have incredible influence on the procedures and processes and policies of the National Executive Board in the union.”
Greg Layson, editor for Automotive News Canada, said he did not like Cassidy’s chances of coming out victorious going into the vote, pointing to the other two candidates’ history at the national level.
“What the new president needs to be, and I will stand by this, is essentially a politician and a negotiator, first and foremost,” said Layson.
Despite the current controversy surrounding Dias, added Layson, he said a lot of good things happened for Windsor-Essex during his run as Unifor National President — and that should continue even with someone leading the union who is not local to the region.
“It's not the end of the world for automotive and it's not the end of the world for Windsor, in terms of its number one industry and economic driver,” said Layson.
With her victory, Payne has become the first woman to lead a large national private sector union in Canada. Unifor represents about 315,000 workers across the country.
CTV News reached out to Dave Cassidy for his reaction to the election results but did not receive a response by publication time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.