The Toronto police’s financial crimes unit says that it is investigating Jerry Dias, the former president of Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, which represents auto workers, among others. The investigation started after the union handed over money that the former president allegedly accepted from the supplier of a brand of COVID-19 rapid test kits he promoted to union members.
“The investigation is in its preliminary stages and we would not comment on specifics at this time, as to not compromise the investigation,” said Laura Brabant, a police spokesperson, told the Canadian Press.
On Monday, Unifor announced that it handed a large sum of money over to Toronto police. The money had been given to the union after a complainant alleged that they had received it from Dias. They said that they had been given $25,000 CAD ($19,864 USD at current exchange rates) by the former union president, who had received another $50,000 ($39,738 USD) from the test kit supplier.
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Unifor has refused to name the supplier and has not said what happened to the portion of the money that Dias allegedly received. It said that it acted on advice from its legal counsel in turning the money in to the police.
The union is charging Dias with violating its code of ethics and democratic practices. A hearing will be held, possibly this month, to determine its response to the former president’s actions.
Dias has led Unifor since 2013 and gained a reputation as a tough negotiator. He was involved in General Motors Canada’s decision to reopen its Oshawa, Ontario, assembly plant. On February 6, however, he began a medical leave just a week after being notified that the union was opening an independent investigation into the matter that is now being investigated. In March, he announced his retirement and additionally said that he would be seeking help in rehab to address his use of pain killers, sleeping pills, and alcohol.
