TORONTO — Former Unifor president Jerry Dias used to be no longer charged as the results of an investigation introduced closing age into allegations that the longtime union chief permitted a bribe, Toronto police mentioned Thursday.
The police’s monetary crimes unit started investigating the previous president of Canada’s greatest personal sector union closing spring upcoming the union passed over cash Dias allegedly permitted from a provider of COVID-19 speedy check kits he promoted to participants. Police mentioned Thursday that the investigation has been concluded.
Unifor on the week charged Dias with violating the code of ethics and democratic practices of the union’s charter, and mentioned a listening to can be held earlier than the nationwide govt board.
Unifor’s director of prison and constitutional issues Anthony Dale mentioned in a remark Thursday that the union’s personal issues in the case of Dias had been concluded to its pleasure and he’s going to not be topic to a listening to procedure below the union’s charter. He mentioned Dias is not a Unifor member, and so the union’s charter and listening to processes not observe to him.
Dias mentioned in a remark that he reached a “satisfactory legal settlement” with Unifor. Dale characterised it as an “understanding.”
Dale mentioned the union used to be knowledgeable through police on the finish of 2022 that refuse felony fee can be laid, however the union’s personal conclusion used to be unrelated to the police investigation.
Dias mentioned that those traits “reinforce what I have always known to be true: that over my 45-year career, I have consistently acted with integrity and in the best interests of Unifor members.”
‘IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON’
Dias mentioned the allegations towards him weren’t true.
“I have never made a dime outside of my salary with Unifor, and I have always lived by the union’s Code of Conduct,” he mentioned.
“In saying this, it is time to move on with my life.”
Dale mentioned the union stands through the findings of its separate investigator’s document on which its allegations have been based totally.
The union had mentioned Dias allegedly gave a Unifor worker $25,000, which he mentioned used to be part of the cash from the provider, and the worker due to this fact filed a criticism below the Unifor code of ethics and delivered the cash to the union.
Dias dedicated to coming into a rehabilitation facility within the wake of the incident, announcing his significance of painkillers, drowsing tablets and alcohol to do business in with a sciatic nerve factor had used his judgment.
Dias started a clinical let fall on Feb. 6, 2022, round a life upcoming being notified in regards to the union’s separate investigation into the subject. He used to be already poised to vacate that age, however did so early.
Dias mentioned Thursday that he has gained clinical consideration to do business in with “serious health issues including debilitating sciatica,” and has additionally gained support to do away with his dependence on opioids to do business in with ache. He mentioned he regrets the distraction to participants, and thanked those that reached out to him.
Dias have been the president of Unifor since 2013 when it used to be created as a merger between two unions. He used to be an outspoken determine of the labour motion in Canada, enjoying an key function all the way through the negotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Pledge and the a success combat to reopen the Basic Motors plant in Oshawa, Ontario.
In an election in August 2022, former nationwide secretary-treasurer Lana Payne used to be elected the unused president of Unifor, operating towards Dias’ former govt workman Scott Doherty, in addition to Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Native 444.
Dias mentioned within the remark that he’s happy with his paintings as Unifor’s first president.
“While I will no longer be leading the actions on the picket lines and at the bargaining table, I will always be Unifor’s number one supporter.”
