Sep 27, 2021 | Grit
Hello, my name is Dave Cassidy, President of Local 444. I represent 10,000 active and 10,000 retired members who work or have worked in the auto, gaming/hospitality, auto parts, retirement home, aerospace, garbage/recycling, fisheries, trucking, auto hauling, energy/power industry and ferry transportation mainly here in Windsor-Essex County. This past year has easily been the most difficult of my career. For context, let me go back just a few weeks before March 2020. On February 27 at 2:00 pm, FCA (now Stellantis) informed me they were cancelling the third shift at the Windsor Assembly Plant. Devastating news for our community with potentially thousands of job losses and many of our members out of work. This news, obviously, was not well received. ,Fear and uncertainty were already knocking at our doors. With March came COVID-19, and almost immediately after invading our shores, panic set in. The announcement came from the government to close the casinos and hundreds more of our members were instantly out of work. Some are still out of work and are suffering today. We have lost some of our retirees to the virus. As well, it has prevented our retirees from seeing and caring for their loved ones. Our assembly and feeder plants were open, then closed, then open again under the guise of being "essential." Not only were we trying to find answers, solutions and give comfort to all of our members who now found themselves out of work, we had to do the same for those who were afraid to go into work. Our very social local with our meetings, picnics, golf tournaments, marches, parades, special gatherings, many of the events that we thought defined who we are came to a grinding halt—first time since the inception of our Local in 1956. These have been hard, dark times for me personally. Though I have a great team and tons of support as the President, I put much of our member's burdens on my shoulders. I can remember distinctly a day or two after the third shift announcement, and the casino announced being closed and the phone ringing off the hook from our members who were terrified to go to work into the plants, that brought me to a place mentally and emotionally where I do not think I have been before….and I did not like it. A quote I remember reading, and I hope you also enjoy the irony of its author- "In times of great stress or adversity, it is always best to keep busy, plow your anger and energy into something positive." Lee Iacocca. This is what I have always done: channel all of my stress, energy and anger into going to work and outworking my adversary. And go to work I did. I have logged my hours and have taken less time off this past year than any other year in my life. There was plenty of stress, adversity and anger that I was plowing into something positive. I was determined not to allow this virus to define who we are as a Local Union. We fought this virus at the bargaining table because of all years, this was the year where most of our contracts were due, including our biggest with Detroit 3. And we did not let this virus dictate a lower worth for our members. We learned quickly how to host virtual meetings, hold strike authorizations and ratify contracts online. This past year has been the harbinger of death to jobs for our members, and sadly it continues, but we will not stop fighting! We will continue meeting with government officials to open our casinos to a fair, sensible capacity to battle for EI reform and a made-in-Canada auto policy. With all the uncertainty and fear of the unknown, I wanted our Local to be the anchor in this storm when our member's sails were torn. Like Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ford, I went to the members virtually every week to let them know where we were and to assure our members we were getting through this together. We highlighted positive stories of hope in our social media, held virtual concerts for our members and found ways to gather within the rules with drive-thru events that brought thousands of people safely to our Local. We were the first Local to host a retiree meeting virtually (if you ever helped your parents with the internet, you understand this was a fantastic feat). We saluted and fed our frontline workers. We handed out hundreds of gallons of Windsor-made hand sanitizer to our medical and elderly care places, distributed hampers of food to those in the county, and turkey dinners to our casino members. Our Local and many of us had to adapt to our new realities, and I want to give kudos to the staff and the Foundation Board at HDGH. It is not easy to change your mindset or modify and shape your events to continue to raise money for the charitable foundation. This virus has thrown many for a loop; often, boards throw up their hands and cancel everything. But not the staff or the HDGH Foundation Board. They put their heads together and came up with some creative ideas to raise money for the worthy causes people in this community depend on. A few examples are the HDGH Big Night which is usually the hottest ticket in town for a beautiful gala of fine dining and complementary entertainment to raise money for mental health programs. The event continued virtually, with delivered specialized boxes that included a fantastic meal, a movie, gourmet popcorn and many extras. As well, they had online auctions and draws. A great night in the middle of a pandemic still managed to raise $50,000 towards helping those struggling with mental health in our community. HDGH also teamed up with my local as we handed out support for our frontline worker's lawn signs for a donation. Hundreds of signs were picked up, and the money donated went towards coffee and donuts and BBQs with the help of Unifor Local 2458 to many of our frontline workers here in our community. The Bob Probert Ride was unfortunately cancelled, but again, HDGH is teaming up with Unifor Local 444 to sell tickets for a Harley Davidson draw to raise money for Mental Health and Addictions Services. This past year has been a real test of everyone's will to move forward. Our Local and the good folks at HDGH have proven that working together only strengthens our resolve not to let this virus or any other adversity define who we are. Instead, how we come through this better and stronger on the other end is how we will determine who we are. In solidarity Dave Cassidy