Editing Canadian Auto Workers

{{Short description|Canadian labour union}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                = Canadian Auto Workers
| full_name           = National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada
| native_name         = Travailleurs canadiens de l'automobile
| native_name_lang    = fr
| logo                = Canadian Auto Workers logo.svg
| logo_alt            = 
| abbreviation        = CAW
| predecessor         = [[United Auto Workers]]
| merged              = [[Unifor]]
| successor           = 
| formation           = {{start date|1985}}
| founder             = <!-- or |founders = -->
| founding_location   = 
| dissolved           = {{end date|2013}}
| merger              = <!-- other organizations (if any) merged with, to constitute the new organization -->
| type                = [[Trade union]]
| headquarters        = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| location            = Canada
| coordinates         = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} -->
| fields              = <!-- or |field = -->
| membership          = 190,000
| membership_year     = 
| languages           = 
| leader_title        = Presidents
| leader_name         = {{ubl | [[Bob White (trade unionist)|Bob White]] | [[Buzz Hargrove]] | [[Ken Lewenza]]}}
| secessions          = 
| affiliations        = {{hlist | [[Canadian Labour Congress]] | [[International Metalworkers' Federation]] | [[International Transport Workers' Federation]]}}
| budget              = 
| budget_year         = 
| revenue             = 
| revenue_year        = 
| expenses            = 
| expenses_year       = 
| endowment           = 
| endowment_year      = 
| staff               = 
| staff_year          = 
}}
The '''National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada''', commonly known as the '''Canadian Auto Workers''' ('''CAW'''),{{efn|In French, the union's name was {{lang|fr|Syndicat national de l'automobile, de l'aérospatiale, du transport et des autres travailleurs et travailleuses du Canada}} and it was commonly known as {{lang|fr|Travailleurs canadiens de l'automobile}} ({{lang|fr|TCA}}).}} was one of Canada's largest labour unions. In 2013, it merged with the [[Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada]], forming a new union, [[Unifor]]. While rooted in [[Ontario]]'s large auto plants of [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Brampton]], [[Oakville, Ontario|Oakville]], [[St. Catharines]], and [[Oshawa]], the CAW has expanded and now incorporates workers in almost every sector of the economy. The presidents of the CAW were [[Bob White (trade unionist)|Bob White]] (1985–1992), [[Buzz Hargrove]] (1992–2008), and [[Ken Lewenza Sr.|Ken Lewenza]] (2008–2013).

==History==
{{Update|date=May 2010}}

===Split from UAW===
The CAW began as the Canadian Region of the [[United Auto Workers]] (UAW).

The UAW was founded in August 1935, and the Canadian Region of the UAW was established in 1937 following the 1937 GM Oshawa strike at [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]'s Oshawa, [[Ontario]] plant. The Canadian Region of the UAW unionized the [[Ford Motor Company]] in 1945 after [[Ford Strike of 1945|a major strike]] which established the [[Rand Formula|right]] of Canadian labour union members to [[union dues]] checkoff. [[George_Burt_(Canada)|George Burt]] was the Canadian Director of the United Auto Workers (UAW) from 1939 to 1968. He is the longest-serving leader of the Canadian Union at 29 years. He pioneered many contractual issues that affected Canadian auto workers in the early years of the union movement.

The reasons for the CAW split from the UAW are complicated. Holmes and Rusonik (1990) contend that although the Canadian labour movement has been seen as traditionally more militant than its American counterpart, it was in fact the uneven geographical development of both management and labour led the Canadian auto-workers to develop a distinctly different set of collective bargaining objectives, which placed them in a far stronger bargaining position as compared to the UAW in the US, and, ultimately, brought about the events that led directly to the Split.
Two of the main forces demanding the restructuring of management and Labour during this time were the rise of Japan as a major automotive force, and the general recession of the world economy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Aided by the [[Canada-United States Automotive Agreement|Auto Pact]] and the weakening Canadian dollar in relation to the United States dollar, a geographic difference developed which provided some relief to many Canadian auto-workers.

By December 1984, significant differences in the value of negotiated contracts, and divergent union objectives had set the stage for the creation of the CAW, a process documented in the [[Genie Award]] winning film, ''[[Final Offer]]''. In 1984, the Canadian section of the UAW, under the leadership of [[Bob White (trade unionist)|Bob White]] and his assistants Buzz Hargrove and Bob Nickerson, broke from the UAW, led by [[Owen Bieber]], because the American union was seen as giving away too much in the way of concessions during [[collective bargaining]]. Additionally, the UAW had been lobbying the US Congress to force the transfer of auto production from Canada to the US and the Canadian branch felt there was a lack of a representative voice during UAW's conventions. By  1985 the split from the American union was complete and Bob White was acclaimed as the first President of the CAW. He served three terms as president.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}.

===Politics===
After separation, the CAW began to grow quickly in size and stature. It merged with a number of smaller unions to double in size and become the largest [[private sector]] union in the country. Most notable were the mergers with the [[Fishermen, Food, and Allied Workers]] and the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Transport and General Workers (see [[CAW National Council 4000]]. The CAW also voiced strong opposition to the then-federal government of [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Brian Mulroney]] and such policies as the [[Goods and Services Tax (Canada)|Goods and Services Tax]] and [[Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement|free trade]].

In the case [[Royal Oak Mines|Fullowka et al. v. Royal Oak Ventures Inc]], held in the aftermath of an 18-month strike at Royal Oak Mines in Yellowknife, the CAW was originally held responsible for 22% of damages at trial, before CAW was successful on appeal. The trial judge found that the union breached its duty of care by doing nothing to stop illegal acts during the strike, paying fines and legal fees for striking miners, providing a person to assist the miners' union who prolonged the strike, and failing to bargain in good faith. At trial, the court ruled that the cumulative effect of these breaches of the duty of care were found to have materially contributed to [[Roger Warren]]'s bombing of the mine, which killed nine strikebreaking workers. Warren, a union member who had been fired from Royal Oak, testified that he was only capable of the bombing because strike-breakers had been "dehumanized" by the union and was sentenced to life in prison. However, these findings of liability were overturned on appeal by the Northwest Territories Court of Appeal and a decision by the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] was dismissed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Giant Mine widows' claim rejected by top court |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/giant-mine-widows-claim-rejected-by-top-court-1.871230 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221213307/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/18/giant-mine.html |archive-date=2010-02-21 |publisher=CBC}}</ref> Furthermore, CAW members Al Shearing and Tim Bettger were sentenced to two and a half and three years in prison, respectively. Both were convicted of painting anti-[[Scab labour|scab]] graffiti and setting an explosion in a ventilation shaft on June 29, 1992. Bettger was sentenced to an additional six months in prison for blowing a hole in a television satellite dish September 1 of that year. (The unioned miners were part of the Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers union (CASAW) Local 4 at the time of the strike, and merged into the CAW in May 1994.)
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Giant Mine decision affects labour and employers across Canada Law&nbsp;– Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, Yellowknife McLennan Ross Law Firm |url=http://www.mross.com/law/Publications/Archives?contentId=600 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714122949/http://www.mross.com/law/Publications/Archives?contentId=600 |archive-date=2011-07-14 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=Mross.com}}</ref>

In 1998, the CAW was deeply involved in discussions with [[Volvo]] Canada Ltd. and the [[Government of Nova Scotia]] over the closure of the [[Volvo Halifax Assembly]] plant. In 2000, the CAW was expelled from the [[Canadian Labour Congress]] when several union locals left the [[SEIU]] and joined the CAW, prompting accusations of [[union raid]]ing. A settlement was reached a year later that allowed the CAW to rejoin the national labour federation but relations with other unions such as the [[International Brotherhood of Teamsters]], the [[United Steel Workers of America]] and SEIU remain strained and the CAW remains outside of the [[Ontario Federation of Labour]].

The CAW's relationship with other unions has also been strained due to its different political direction. The CAW is strongly left leaning and it has traditionally been a strong supporter of the [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]] (NDP) and the [[Bloc Québécois]]. However, under former leader [[Buzz Hargrove]], it began lending its support to the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] in ridings which the NDP were unlikely to win in the recent federal elections.

The CAW has attempted several times, all unsuccessful, to organize [[Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keenan |first=Greg |title=CAW, Toyota battle over unionization heating up |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/report-on-business/caw-toyota-battle-over-unionization-heating-up/article978503/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |archive-date=2023-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130095137/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/report-on-business/caw-toyota-battle-over-unionization-heating-up/article978503/ |url-status=live }}</ref> TMMC Assistant General Manager and spokesman Greig Mordue stated  "Our team members will decide whether or not a union best reflects their interest... At this point in time, we don't think they have anything to gain from a union", and described the defeat of the union drive saying "Our team members have recognized that a third party represents a complication they don't need."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-27 |title=babble: CAW sellout Stanford backs Toyota Liberal |url=http://www.rabble.ca/babble/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=12&t=001276&p= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611211626/http://www.rabble.ca/babble/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=12&t=001276&p= |archive-date=2011-06-11 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=Rabble.ca}}</ref> Despite this, however, the CAW supported Mordue as the Liberal candidate in the 2006 federal election instead of endorsing the NDP's Zoe Kunschner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election 2006 |url=http://www.ctv.ca/mini/election2006/candidates/35067_LIB.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071120223819/http://www.ctv.ca/mini/election2006/candidates/35067_LIB.html |archive-date=2007-11-20 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=Ctv.ca}}</ref> Mordue attempted to take credit for bringing the new plant to Woodstock, but lost to Conservative incumbent [[Dave MacKenzie (politician)|Dave MacKenzie]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swayze |first=Kevin |date=2006-01-25 |title=Toyota angle didn't help Oxford's Mordue |url=http://www.therecord.com/fed_election2006/fed_election2006_06012581528.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215231846/http://www.therecord.com/fed_election2006/fed_election2006_06012581528.html |archive-date=2006-12-15 |access-date=2023-02-07 |publisher=[[The Record (Waterloo Region)|The Record]]}}</ref>

The [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]] saw the governing Liberals lose power, despite CAW support. Afterwards, the Ontario NDP voted to expel Hargrove for supporting the Liberals, which automatically suspended his membership in the federal party. The CAW retaliated by severing all union ties with the NDP, a move formalized at the CAW's 2006 convention.

===2008–2010 automotive crisis===
{{Main|Effects of the 2008–2010 automotive industry crisis on Canada}}
Industry analyst Anthony Faria has criticized the labour contracts that Canadian Auto Workers then-president [[Buzz Hargrove]] negotiated with the [[Big Three automobile manufacturers|Big Three US automobile manufacturers]] in 2007, predicting that the [[subprime mortgage crisis]] and currency would hit Canadian auto production especially hard. Faria noted that UAW president [[Ron Gettelfinger]] agreed to have the UAW's "all-in" wage, benefit and pension costs drop from a high of $75.86 per hour in 2007 to an average of about $51 per hour starting in 2010. By comparison, the CAW's cost per hour was $77 in 2007 and will rise to over $80 per hour by the end of the new contract. Faria said that Gettelfinger went into negotiations "with the right intention...Save jobs. The CAW strategy was to squeeze every dime out of them."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doelen |first=Chris Vander |date=2008-01-30 |title=Thousands of CAW auto job losses predicted |url=http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=63a938bc-58fa-4795-9ec4-10741d105193 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215053440/http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=63a938bc-58fa-4795-9ec4-10741d105193 |archive-date=2009-02-15 |access-date=2009-01-12 |website=The Windsor Star}}</ref> Hargrove was said to have "instilled backbone and an attitude that the union could always make the auto makers buckle at the bargaining table".<ref name="theglobeandmail1">{{Cite news |last=DeCloet |first=Derek |date=2009-03-10 |title=GM had a gun to the CAW's head – and missed |work=business.theglobeandmail.com |location=Toronto |url=http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090309.wdecloet0310/BNStory/robColumnsBlogs/home |url-status=dead |access-date=2023-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313035141/http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090309.wdecloet0310/BNStory/robColumnsBlogs/home |archive-date=March 13, 2009}}</ref>

Current union president [[Ken Lewenza Sr.|Ken Lewenza]] has argued that labour is not responsible for the bankruptcy crisis facing the Big Three automakers, saying that his members would not make concessions part of any taxpayer-funded bailout.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-11-24 |title=Other voices |url=https://www.thespec.com/opinion/2008/11/24/other-voices.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=The Hamilton Spectator |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207165307/https://www.thespec.com/opinion/2008/11/24/other-voices.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lawenza argued that the CAW agreed in 2007 to make concessions that will save the Big Three $900 million over three years.<ref name="government-help">{{Cite web |date=2008-11-21 |title=Car dealers plead for government help |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081121.wcdeals1121/BNStory/National/home |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123013323/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081121.wcdeals1121/BNStory/National/home |archive-date=2008-11-23 |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=globeandmail.com}}</ref>

A spokesman for the [[Canadian Taxpayers Federation]] has criticized the CAW's "no-concession" stance, saying that it only serves to strengthen the opposition to a taxpayer-funded bailout for the struggling Detroit Three automakers. The CTF further pointed out that "It is especially difficult to understand anyone asking for government help that refuses to do anything to help itself to begin with", since they "fail to realize they've existed at the substantial largesse of taxpayers for decades".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Macaluso |first=Grace |date=2008-01-30 |title=Lewenza 'petulant' child |url=http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=c07f9882-2f99-4479-b067-831ac302129a |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215051012/http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=c07f9882-2f99-4479-b067-831ac302129a |archive-date=2009-02-15 |access-date=2009-01-12 |website=The Windsor Star |publisher=Canada.com}}</ref> Kelly McParland, a columnist for the [[National Post]], has suggested that "if he won't give anything, he and his members are likely to lose everything." He also said that the problem facing the North American auto industry was borne equally by management and labour alike, criticizing labour for building up pay and benefits for themselves that was as unsustainable as it was enviable, while attacking management for its short-term strategy of selling gas-guzzling trucks and sales tactics (price cuts, rebates, free gas and cash-back schemes).<ref>{{Cite web |last=McParland |first=Kelly |date=November 19, 2008 |title=Kelly McParland: Stop the revolution, the CAW wants to get off |url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/19/kelly-mcparland-stop-the-revolution-the-caw-wants-to-get-off.aspx |access-date=2009-01-12 |website=National Post}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The CTF has opposed the proposed CAD $3.5 billion bailout for Canadian subsidiaries of the Big Three, saying that it was an unfair financial burden on the average Canadian, as well as another excuse for the Detroit automakers to postpone much needed change. The CTF noted that federal and provincial governments spent $782-million in the past five years on the Big Three, saying "These have been a bottomless pit of requests for cash". Lewenza disagreed, saying that the bailout should be seen by Canadians as a loan that will be paid back when the country's economy is prosperous again.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nguyen |first=Linda |date=2008-12-13 |title=Canadian taxpayers and auto union butt heads over bailout |work=National Post |agency=Canwest News Service |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1073285 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-01-12 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081216160636/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1073285 |archive-date=2008-12-16}}</ref>

On December 20, the governments of Canada and Ontario offered $3.3 billion in loans to the auto industry. Under the plan GM was to receive $3 billion and [[Chrysler]] was to receive the rest. [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] only asked for a line of credit but did not be participating in the bailout.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Austen |first=Ian |date=2008-12-20 |title=Canada Agrees to Its Own Auto Industry Bailout |work=The New York Times |location=Canada |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/worldbusiness/21canada.html?ref=business |access-date=2009-01-12 |archive-date=2015-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019104916/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/worldbusiness/21canada.html?ref=business |url-status=live }}</ref>

The CAW negotiated a cost-cutting deal with General Motors Canada on March 8, 2009. The deal would extend the current contract for an additional year to September 2012, and preserves the current average assembly-worker base pay of about $34 an hour. It would eliminate a $1,700 annual "special bonus," and reduce special paid absences or "SPA days" from two weeks to one week a year, while maintaining vacation entitlements which range up to six weeks a year for high-seniority workers. The deal also introduced payments by members toward their health benefits - $30 monthly per family for workers and $15 a month for pensioners. Lewenza said it also would trim by 35 per cent company contributions to union-provided programs such as child care and wellness programs. Lewenza called the package a "major sacrifice." However, observers noted that the deal did not go far enough; [[Dominion Bond Rating Service]] analyst Kam Hon described it as "not material." Automotive industry consultant [[Dennis DesRosiers]] said that General Motors had missed the chance to slash labour costs,<ref>[http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandRegion/2009/03/09/8687446.html]{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> pointing out that bankruptcy was a looming threat, Ottawa and Queen's Park demanded cuts to the labour bill as a condition of the bailout, and that the deficit to the pension fund would prevent the CAW from striking.<ref name="theglobeandmail1" /> He estimated the total hourly cost of a GM Canada worker, including benefits, is $75 to $78, and saying that "they [GM] got six or seven." when it should have been cut by $20. DesRosiers also said giving up cost-of-living increases is not significant when inflation is nearly non-existent and added that the 40-hour reduction in [[paid time off]] merely means "five fewer spa days." [[University of Toronto]] professor Joe D'Cruz calculated that it would save $148 million a year, though GM is seeking $6 billion in Canadian government support.<ref name="government-help" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Business News |url=http://www.am770chqr.com/News/Business/Article.aspx?id=92681 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=Am770chqr.com}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> CAW autoworkers with seniority were able to maintain 10 weeks of vacation with full pay, while not contributing to their pension fund, relying instead on taxpayers (including these without pensions) to help make up their unfunded liabilities.<ref name="financialpost1">{{Cite web |date=2009-03-05 |title=Only CAW can save Ottawa from bailout |url=http://www.financialpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=1357929 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410073430/http://www.financialpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=1357929 |archive-date=2009-04-10 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=Financialpost.com}}</ref>

The agreement is contingent on Canada being allocated 20% of GM's North American, and getting billions of dollars in federal and provincial taxpayer support, which Lewenza stressed will be loans. However, some suggested that this would not be the final time that automakers would request a bailout.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Ivison: Automotive bailout must not be free ride |url=http://www.financialpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=1343240 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402161023/http://www.financialpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=1343240 |archive-date=2009-04-02 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=Financialpost.com}}</ref>
Dennis DesRosiers estimated that GM will go through its government loans in a couple of quarters, long before any recovery in the market. Furthermore, GM Canada president Arturo Elias had admitted to MP [[Frank Valeriote]] that GM had pledged all its assets worldwide to the US government in order to secure the first tranche of a US$30 billion loan, leaving no assets to collateralize the $6 billion loan from the [[Government of Canada|Canadian government]]. The Canadian Taxpayers' Federation noted that between 1982 and 2005, Ottawa handed out over $18.2 billion to corporations, of which only $7.1 billion was repayable, and only $1.3 billion was ever repaid.
<ref name="financialpost1" />

Chrysler vice-chairman and president [[Thomas W. LaSorda]] (himself the son of a CAW official) and Ford's chief of manufacturing Joe Hinrichs said that the GM-CAW deal was insufficient, suggesting that they would break the CAW's negotiating pattern set by GM. LaSorda told the [[House of Commons of Canada]] finance committee that he would demand an hourly wage cut of $20, suggested that Chrysler may withdraw from Canada if it fails to achieve more substantial cost savings from the CAW.
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article |url=http://www.canada.com/CAWkeen+extend+GMdeal+Ford+Chrysler/1394268/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128214155/http://www.canada.com/CAWkeen+extend+GMdeal+Ford+Chrysler/1394268/story.html |archive-date=2016-01-28 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=canada.com}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Jeff |date=2009-03-14 |title=GM Says CAW Union Pact Wins Parity With U.S. Foreign Automakers |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=atjPPT9kXqAY&refer=home |access-date=2011-03-03 |archive-date=2010-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321154128/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCrank |first=John |date=2009-03-16 |title=RPT-Chrysler Canada cannot afford GM-CAW deal -source |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/privateEquity/idUSN1650804820090316 |access-date=2017-06-30 |archive-date=2021-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308210104/https://www.reuters.com/article/privateEquity/idUSN1650804820090316 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 31, 2009, the Canadian federal and Ontario governments jointly rejected the restructuring plans submitted by GM and Chrysler. This came a day after US President [[Barack Obama]] had rejected the plans of their parent companies. Both federal Industry Minister [[Tony Clement]] and Ontario Premier [[Dalton McGuinty]] suggested the CAW's initial deal was insufficient in cutting costs and the union had to return to the bargaining table to make further concessions. Both governments maintained that these were needed to make the business viable in order justify the use of taxpayers' money.
<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-03-31 |title=Find more cuts, Premier tells GM and CAW |work=Business.theglobeandmail.com |location=Toronto |url=http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090331.wgm0331/BNStory/Business/home |url-status=dead |access-date=2011-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403150353/http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090331.wgm0331/BNStory/Business/home |archive-date=2009-04-03}}</ref> [[Fiat]] CEO [[Sergio Marchionne]] has asked that CAW wages be reduced to the levels of non-unionized workers from Honda and Toyota operating in Canada, or else they would walk away from the [[Fiat#Partnership with Chrysler|proposed alliance with Chrysler]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-17|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Fiat#Partnership with Chrysler|reason= }}, resulting in the latter being forced into bankruptcy.
<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Reguly |first1=Eric |last2=Keenan |first2=Greg |title=Fiat to Chrysler: Cut costs or we walk |work=Business.theglobeandmail.com |location=Toronto |url=http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090414.wrfiat15/BNStory/Business/home |url-status=dead |access-date=2011-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418172951/http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090414.wrfiat15/BNStory/Business/home |archive-date=2009-04-18}}</ref>
Following its emergence from Chapter 11, Chrysler returned to profitability, repaying some of its government loans.

===Unifor===
The Canadian Auto Workers voted in October 2012 to merge with the [[Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Alistair |date=2012-10-15 |title=Big Canadian Unions Vote to Merge |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443854204578058692495880014.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2012-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023201444/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443854204578058692495880014.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The new merged union, [[Unifor]], held its founding convention in August 2013.

==CAW leaders==

'''Canadian Directors of the UAW'''
*[[Charles Millard]] (1937–1939)
*[[George Burt (Canada)|George Burt]] (1939–1968)
*[[Dennis McDermott]] (1968–1978)
*[[Bob White (trade unionist)|Bob White]] (1978–1985)

'''Presidents of the Canadian Auto Workers'''
*[[Bob White (trade unionist)|Bob White]] (1985–1992)
*[[Buzz Hargrove]] (1992–2008)
*[[Ken Lewenza Sr.|Ken Lewenza]] (2008–2013)

==Major CAW employers==
[[File:Labour Day Parade Toronto September 2011.jpg|thumb|CAW members marching in the 2011 [[Labour Day]] parade in [[Toronto]]]]

===Major auto===
* [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors of Canada]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 195|Local 195]], [[CAW Local 199|199]], [[CAW Local 222|222]], [[CAW Local 636|636]], [[CAW Local 1001|1001]],
* [[Ford Motor Company|Ford Motor Company of Canada]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 200|Local 200]], [[CAW Local 240|240]], [[CAW Local 707|707]], [[CAW Local 1520|1520]] CAW Local 584
* [[Chrysler Canada]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 144|Local 144]], [[CAW Local 195|195]], [[CAW Local 432|432]], [[CAW Local 444|444]], [[CAW Local 1090|1090]], [[CAW Local 1285|1285]], [[CAW Local 1459|1459]],
* [[CAMI Automotive]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 88|Local 88]]

===Aerospace===
* [[Pratt and Whitney]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 510|Local 510]]
* [[Bombardier Aerospace|Bombardier]]/[[de Havilland Canada|de Havilland]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 112|Local 112]]
* [[Boeing Canada]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 1967|Local 1967]], [[CAW Local 2169]]
* [[CMC Electronics]]
* [[IMP Group International|IMP Group]]
* [[Magellan Aerospace]]/[[Bristol Aerospace|Bristol]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 3005|Local 3005]]
* [[Cascade Aerospace Inc]] - [[CAW Local 114]]

===Specialty vehicles===
* GM/[[General Dynamics]] (London)&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 27|Local 27]]
* [[Bombardier Aerospace|Bombardier]] (Thunder Bay/Kingston)
* [[New Flyer Industries]] (Winnipeg)&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 3003|Local 3003]]
* [[Paccar]]/[[Kenworth]] (Que.)
* [[Hitachi Construction Truck Manu]] (Guelph, Ontario) - [[CAW Local 1917]]

===Shipbuilding===
* [[Halifax Shipyard]]– [[CAW/MWF Local 1]]
* [[Marystown Shipyard]]
* [[Shelburne Ship Repair]]

===Electrical and electronics===
* [[Camco (appliances)|Camco]]
* [[General Electric]]– [[CAW Local 3003|Local 3003]]
* [[Westinghouse Electric (1886)|Westinghouse]]
* [[Nortel Networks]]

===General manufacturing===
* [[3M Canada - CAW Local 27]]
* [[Collins and Aikman Plastics]]
* [[MTD Products]]
* [[Atlas Steels]]
* [[Collins and Aikman Plastics]]
* [[Honeywell|Honeywell Specialty Chemicals Amherstburg]]&nbsp;— [[Local 89]]
* [[Kautex Textron]]
* [[McGregor Hosiery Mills]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 40|Local 40]]
* [[Parmalat]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 462|Local 462]]
* [[Nestlé|Nestlé Enterprises]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 252|Local 252]]
* [[Bazaar and Novelty]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 462|Local 462]]
* [[Guelph Products]]
* [[LTV Copperweld]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 636|Local 636]]
* [[PepsiCo Foods]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 1996|Local 1996]]
* [[St. Anne Nackawic Pulp Co.]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 219|Local 219]]
* [[Scanwood Canada Ltd.]] - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Selkirk Canada Corporation Stoney Creek facility]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 504|Local 504]]
* [[RockTenn]] - (Guelph, ON) - [[CAW Local 1917]]
* [[CPK Interior Products]] - (CPK IP) - (Guelph, ON) [[CAW Local 1917]]
* [[Concast Pipe]] - (Guelph, ON) - [[CAW Local 1917]]
* [[Ventra Plastics]] - (Peterborough, ON)  [[CAW Local 1987]]

===Air transportation===
* [[Air Canada|Air Canada and Regional]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2002|Local 2002]]
* [[Nav Canada]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2245|Local 2245]], [[CAW Local 5454|5454]], [[CAW Local 1016|1016]]
* [[Worldwide Flight Services]]– [[CAW Local 2002|Local 2002]]
* Handlex ([[Air Transat]])&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2002|Local 2002]]
* [[First Air]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2002|Local 2002]]

===Railways===
* [[Canadian National Railway]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 100|Local 100]], [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]&nbsp;– Local 101, 103,104
* [[Ontario Northland Railway]] - Local 102
* [[Savage Alberta Railway]]&nbsp;– [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Toronto Terminal Railways]] - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Via Rail Canada]]&nbsp;– [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]], [[CAW Local 100|Local 100]]
* WABCO Stoney Creek&nbsp;– CAW Local 558

===Marine transportation===
* [[Bay Ferries]], Saint John, NB-Digby, NS - [[CAW Local 4404|Local 4404]]
* [[St. Lawrence Seaway]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 4212|Local 4212]]
* [[Marine Atlantic]]

===Other transportation===
* [[Coast Mountain Bus Company]], Greater Vancouver&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 111|Local 111]], [[CAW Local 2200|2200]]
* [[Canadian National Railway|CN]] Transportation Ltd. (CNTL&nbsp;– trucking)&nbsp;– [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* CN Intermodal - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[DHL Express|DHL]] (Loomis) Courier&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 114|Local 114]], [[CAW Local 144|144]], [[CAW Local 4050|4050]], [[CAW Local 4278|4278]], [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Durham Region Transit]] - [[CAW Local 222|Local 222]]
* [[Grand River Transit]] - [[CAW Local 4304|Local 4304]]
* [[Laidlaw]] (carrier and transit)&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 195|Local 195]], [[CAW Local 4268|4268]]
* [[Blue Line Taxi]], Ottawa
* [[Waste Management Inc]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 4050|Local 4050]], [[CAW Local 4209|4209]], [[CAW Local4268|4268]]
* [[BC Transit]], Victoria&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 333|Local 333]]
* [[Reimer Express Lines]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 4209|Local 4209]]
* [[Brinks]] - [[CAW Local 504]]
* [[Securicor]] Cash Services&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 114|Local 114]]

===Fisheries===
* East Coast fish harvesters&nbsp;– [[Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union|FFAW/CAW]]
* East Coast fish plant workers&nbsp;– [[Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union|FFAW/CAW]]
* West Coast fish harvesters and fish plant workers ([[United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union|UFAWU]])
* Great Lakes fish harvesters and fish plant workers&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 444|Local 444]]

===Mining and smelting===
* [[Xstrata]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 598|Local 598]]
*[[Xstrata]] [[Kidd Metallurgical Site]] &nbsp;– [[CAW Local 599|Local 599]]
* [[Alcan]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2301|Local 2301]]
* [[NVI Mining]]&nbsp;– [[Local 3019]]
* [[Windsor Salt Mine]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 1959|Local 1959]]
* [[Gibraltar Mines]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 3018|Local 3018]]

===Hospitality and gaming===
* [[Fairmont Hotels and Resorts|Fairmont Hotels]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 4050|Local 4050]], [[CAW Local 4275|4275]], [[CAW Local 4276|4276]], [[CAW Local 4534|4534]]
* [[Delta Hotels]]
* [[Caesars Windsor]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 444|Local 444]]
* [[White Spot]]
* [[Radisson Hotels]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 195|Local 195]], [[CAW Local 3000|3000]], [[CAW Local 4209|4209]]
* [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 3000|Local 3000]]
* Rocky Mountain Catering Co. Ltd. - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Sheraton Hotels and Resorts]]
* [[Northern Lights Casino]]
* [[Marriott Hotels]]
* [[World Trade and Convention Centre]] Halifax - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Great Blue Heron Casino Port Perry]] - Local 1090
* [[Elements Casino Brantford]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 504|Local 504]]

===Retail and wholesale trade===
* [[Atlantic Wholesalers]] (Loblaw Companies) [[Moncton]] - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[The Coca-Cola Company]] Local 973 (Brampton and Hamilton), Local 350 (Edmonton), Local 126 (Weston)
* [[Dominion (supermarket)|Dominion Stores]]/[[A&P Canada]]/[[Superfresh]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 414|Local 414]]
* [[Food Basics]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 414|Local 414]]
* [[Loblaws]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 414|Local 414]]
* [[No Frills (grocery store)|No Frills]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 414|Local 414]]
* [[PharmaPlus]]
* [[Results 360 Moncton Logistics Inc.]] (Freezer warehouse logistics) - [[Moncton]] - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Sav-a-Centre]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 414|Local 414]]
* [[Sears Canada]]
* [[Hudson's Bay (retailer)|The Bay]]/[[Zellers]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 240|Local 240]]
* [[Valu-mart]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 414|Local 414]]
* [[Your Independent Grocer]] - [[CAW Local 414|Local 414]]

===Health care===
* [[Cape Breton District Health Authority]]
* [[St. Joseph's Health Care]], [[London, Ontario|London]]– [[CAW Local 27|Local 27]]
* [[Versa Care Homes]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 302|Local 302]], [[CAW Local 830|830]], [[CAW Local 2458|2458]]
* [[London Health Sciences Centre]]
* [[Grand River Hospital]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 302|Local 302]]
* [[Camp Hill Medical Centre]], [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]]
* [[Extendicare Homes]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 302|Local 302]], [[CAW Local 830|830]], [[CAW Local 1120|1120]], [[CAW Local 2458|2458]]
* [[Homes for the Aged]], [[Thunder Bay]]– [[CAW Local 229|Local 229]]
* [[Glazier Health Centre]], [[Oshawa]]- [[Local 1136]]
* [[Sault Area Hospitals]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 1120|Local 1120]]
* [[Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare]],– [[CAW Local 2458|Local 2458]]
* [[Windsor Regional Hospital]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2458|Local 2458]]
* [[Northwood Care]], [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]] - [[CAW Local 4606]]
* [[St. Joseph's Care Group]], [[Thunder Bay]]– [[CAW Local 27|Local 27]], [[CAW Local 229|229]], [[CAW Local 598|598]], [[CAW Local 1120|1120]]
* [[Ornge]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2002|Local 2002]]

===General services===
* [[Allstream]] (formerly AT&T Canada)
* [[Green Shield Services]]– [[CAW Local 240|Local 240]]
* [[McMaster University]] - [[CAW Local 555]]
* Montreal-area auto dealerships
* [[Nova Scotia Federation of Labour]] Support Staff - [[CAW National Council 4000|National Council 4000]]
* [[Scandinavian Centre]] (B.C.)
* [[University of Manitoba]] - Local 3007
* [[University of Windsor]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 2458|Local 2458]]
* [[Windsor Star]]&nbsp;– [[CAW Local 240|Local 240]]

==Related subjects==

===Films===

CAW President [[Bob White (trade unionist)|Bob White]] plays a major role in the 1985 documentary film: ''[[Final Offer]]'' by Sturla Gunnarsson & Robert Collision. It follows the 1984 contract negotiations with General Motors that saw the CAW's birth, and split with the UAW. It's an interesting look at life on the shop floor of a car factory, along with the art of business negotiation.

===Donation to the University of Windsor===
The CAW Local 200 donated over $4 million towards the renovation of the [[University of Windsor]]'s student union building, which was renamed the [[CAW Student Centre]] in 1991 as recognition of the gift.

==See also==
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
*[[CAW Locals]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |last=Gindin |first=Sam |url=https://archive.org/details/canadianautowork0000gind |title=The Canadian Auto Workers |publisher=James Lorimer and Company |year=1995 |isbn=1-55028-498-3 |quote=Canadian History. |author-link=Sam Gindin |url-access=registration}}
*{{Cite book |last1=Holmes |first1=John |url=https://archive.org/details/breakupofinterna0000holm |title=The Break-Up of an International Labour Union |last2=Anthony Rusonik |publisher=Queen' University |year=1990 |isbn=0-88886-265-2 |location=Canada |author-link=John Holmes (writer) |access-date=2011-03-03 |url-access=registration}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080317160749/http://www.caw.ca/whoweare/ourhistory/cawhistory/index.html History of the CAW] by Sam Gindin
*[https://wayback.archive-it.org/288/*/http://www.caw.ca/ Canadian Auto Workers Union] – Web Archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries
*[http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/bullet065.html The CAW and Magna: Disorganizing the Working Class] by Sam Gindin
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071213173929/http://socialistproject.ca/caw.html Critical view of the CAW and Magna Agreement] by various authors.

{{Canadian Labour Congress}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Canadian Auto Workers| ]]
[[Category:International Metalworkers' Federation]]
[[Category:International Transport Workers' Federation]]
[[Category:Vehicle industry trade unions]]
[[Category:Trade unions established in 1985]]
[[Category:Defunct trade unions in Canada]]
[[Category:Breakaway trade unions]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Trade unions disestablished in 2013]]