Dias says he’s checking right into a rehabilitation centre on physician’s orders
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Canada’s largest private-sector union has accused former nationwide president Jerry Dias of accepting cash from a COVID-19 speedy take a look at provider in return for selling the kits to employers.
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The union investigation, carried out by an unbiased exterior investigator, alleges that Dias violated its code of ethics by taking $50,000 from a maker of the checks.
The union mentioned Dias was requested to take part within the probe, however the findings have been made with out his enter. A listening to will now be held earlier than the Nationwide Government Board.
Dias went on medical depart in early February and earlier this month, retired as chief of Unifor the day earlier than the union introduced that he had been beneath investigation since late January for “an alleged breach of the Unifor structure.”
In a press release to Unifor members shortly earlier than the union’s press convention Wednesday, Dias mentioned he’s getting into a rehabilitation facility, and beneath physician’s recommendation can be unable to take part within the listening to addressing the grievance in opposition to him.
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Dias didn’t immediately deal with the accusation however mentioned throughout his time period as president, “I used to be all the time guided by the ideas set out in our structure.”
The previous union chief, 64, was elected president in 2013 on the union’s founding conference, and went on to serve three back-to-back phrases. Unifor now represents over 315,000 Canadian staff.
Dias advocated on behalf of Canada throughout the renegotiation of the North American Free Commerce Settlement beneath U.S. President Donald Trump. In 2020, when Ford Motor Co.’s solely car meeting plant was slated to shut, Dias stunned many observers by main a profitable effort to maintain it open.
In December 2021, Dias was chosen by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to run the Council of U.S. Commerce and Trade Competitiveness, a job pressure geared toward propping up the Canadian auto business within the wake of American protectionist measures.
Dias has been named one in every of Canada’s 50 strongest individuals by Maclean’s, and Canada’s most influential union chief by Ottawa Life journal.
Monetary Publish’s Toronto-based staff are represented by Unifor.
