When Ken Lewenza took over the presidency of the Canadian Auto Workers a year ago he knew he wasn’t in for an easy ride. But he didn’t know his union would shed 25,000 members in a year because of the economic crisis and the near collapse of the Canadian auto sector.
As he was re-elected Thursday for a three-year mandate at the head of the country’s largest private-sector union, Lewenza warned the worst is likely not over.
He noted the CAW is preoccupied with the reductions and job losses at the Ford Windsor, Ont. plant, the St. Thomas, Ont. plant — which is subject to close in 2011 — and the Oakville, Ont. plant that is not operating at full speed.