Jerry Dias

Jerry Dias
Dias addressing the 2013 Ontario Federation of Labour convention
1st President of Unifor
Incumbent
Assumed office August 31, 2013
President of Canadian Auto Workers Local 112
In office 1987–1993
Personal details
Born	(1958-10-10) October 10, 1958 Toronto, Ontario
Parents	Jerry Dias, Sr.[1]
Residence	Milton, Ontario

Jerome P. Dias, Jr. was elected the first president of the new Unifor union, a merger between the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, on August 31, 2013.^[2]

The son of Jerry Dias, Sr., a worker at de Havilland's facilities in Downsview who led the plant's United Auto Workers local from 1967 to 1978,^[3] Dias pursued studies at York University before dropping out to take a job at the plant, and later became president of the union local himself in 1987.^[1] He later became a staff representative for the Canadian Auto Workers' national office in 1993;^[1] in 2007, he became a senior assistant to CAW presidents Buzz Hargrove and Ken Lewenza, Sr.^[3] Jerry has been active in the labour movement for nearly four decades. As President he leads Unifor’s ambitious efforts to help change the country into one in which we can all benefit from good jobs, safe communities and a prosperous, inclusive economy. He has led numerous campaigns including leading Unifor’s effort to help defeat Harper in the 2015 federal election. Alongside his political activism, Jerry’s ongoing work to defend workers has helped prevent workplace closures, and led to the implementation of important improvements for workers’ safety and rights. Over the last five years, Jerry, along with his son Jordan, has participated in the Hope in High Heels walk. Jerry is the top fundraiser – helping to provide a large chunk of the operating budget of Halton Women’s Place, a women’s shelter and centre in Burlington, Ontario.

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