Unifor membership elects Lana Payne as new leader

In itsfirst contested election in almost 10 years, Canada's largest private-sector union has electedLana Payne as the new national president of Unifor.

She is the first woman to hold the position.

"We have to consider that economic policy should be working for workers, and not just for a few corporations in this country," said Payneafter being elected.

Payne was previously national secretary-treasurer of Unifor.She defeated executive assistant to the president Scott Doherty and Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy.

In a statement, Unifor saidas part of her campaign, Payne championed the need for greater transparency and accountability in the union.

Payne initiated investigation into former president

In her role as secretary-treasurer, Payne initiated an independent external investigation into former Uniforpresident Jerry Diasin January.

Diaswasaccused of taking money for recommending a company supplying COVID-19 test kits to Unifor employers. He announced his eventual retirement from Unifor's leadershipin March.

"Theconstitutional breach dealt a severe blow to the credibility of the union,"saidLarry Savage, a professor of Labour Studies at Brock University who followed the race."It was imperative that candidates laid out clear plans on how they would address the issue - and be transparent -restore confidence of the union in the eyes of members and the general public and it looks like Lana convinced delegates she was the person to do it."

Dias was first elected national president in 2013. He was the first president of Unifor, which was formed after the Canadian Auto Workers Unionmerged withthe Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

Uncertainty, inflation hurting workers

Savage saidUnifor has a lot of clout at the bargaining table and at the ballot box.

"There is an opportunity here for the new president of Uniforto seize this moment in the Canadian economy - we have record low unemployment - you have inflation that is nibbling away at people's paycheques-it's an opportunity that is ripe for unionization."

WATCH | Lana Payne to lead Unifor:

Unifor membership elects 1st woman president

2 years ago

Duration 2:01

Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union, has elected Lana Payne as its new national president. She is the first woman to hold the position.

When Windsor auto workers were asked about their reaction to the union'snew leadership, most pointed tothe need for more investment as their biggest priority.

"It's been a rocky road the last couple of years with COVID and now parts shortages. So a little bit of stability, a little bit of just calm in the waters I think everybody will get back into the groove again," saidDino Gatto.

"I think there's a lot of good coming out of the union. I think there's things that we can alwaysimproveonContract time is next year, so hopefully we'll see some of those things come together."

Unifor represents more than 300,000 workers across Canada in a wide range of industries.