CAW Local 444
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Auto Workers, Local 444 (CAW Local 444) is an amalgamated local union affiliated to the Canadian Auto Workers
(CAW) national union. Originally founded in 1942 as the Chrysler
Division of UAW Local 195, Local 444 became a stand-alone union (then affiliated with the U.S.-based United Auto Workers
) in 1956.
Based in Windsor, Ontario
, Canada
, CAW Local 444 currently represents around 4600 Chrysler Canada
employees who work at the company's Windsor assembly plant, as well as a number of other Windsor-area employers including Caesars Windsor
casino, Dakkota Integrated Systems, HBPO Canada, Integram Seating (Magna International
), Johnson Controls
, Oakley Sub Assembly Windsor, Presteve and Etna Foods, TransAlta Energy
and TRW Automotive
.
, after the latter was elected to become the CAW's National President in September, 2008. Buzz Hargrove
, Lewenza's immediate predecessor as national president, was also previously a member of Local 444. Ken Lewenza, Jr., another Local 444 member and the son of former local president, now national president, Lewenza Sr., was a member of Windsor City Council
until losing his seat on October 25, 2010. His loss was seen to be part of a rejection by voters of union dominance in local politics.
The first President of Local 444, Charles Brooks, lead the Local 444 from 1956 until his death by assassination in 1977 Chrysler Motors employee.
Canadian Auto Workers
The Canadian Auto Workers is one of Canada's largest and highest profile social unions. While rooted in Ontario's large auto plants of Windsor, Brampton, Oakville, St...
(CAW) national union. Originally founded in 1942 as the Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
Division of UAW Local 195, Local 444 became a stand-alone union (then affiliated with the U.S.-based United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
) in 1956.
Based in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, CAW Local 444 currently represents around 4600 Chrysler Canada
Chrysler Canada
Chrysler Canada Incorporated is Chrysler's Canadian subsidiary. Incorporated in 1925, the Chrysler Corporation of Canada gained complete control of a Maxwell-Chalmers plant in Windsor Ontario that had been used to manufacture some Chrysler models in the previous year...
employees who work at the company's Windsor assembly plant, as well as a number of other Windsor-area employers including Caesars Windsor
Caesars Windsor
Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario is one of four casinos in the Detroit–Windsor area. Owned by the government of the province of Ontario , it is operated by Caesars Entertainment. Both the original Casino Windsor and the new expansion were designed by WZMH Architects...
casino, Dakkota Integrated Systems, HBPO Canada, Integram Seating (Magna International
Magna International
Magna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
), Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a company, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It was founded in 1885 by professor Warren S. Johnson, inventor of the first electric room thermostat....
, Oakley Sub Assembly Windsor, Presteve and Etna Foods, TransAlta Energy
TransAlta
TransAlta Corporation is a power generation and wholesale marketing company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.TransAlta maintains a low-to-moderate risk profile by operating a highly contracted portfolio of assets in Canada, the United States and Australia...
and TRW Automotive
TRW Automotive
TRW Automotive , headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, is a major global supplier of automotive systems, modules and components to automotive original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets....
.
Prominent members
The current president of Local 444 is Rick Laporte. Laporte replaced Ken Lewenza, Sr.Ken Lewenza, Sr.
Ken Lewenza, Sr. is the National President of the Canadian Auto Workers union, having been acclaimed at that organization's national convention on September 6, 2008. He was previously the president of the Canadian Auto Workers, Local 444 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada...
, after the latter was elected to become the CAW's National President in September, 2008. Buzz Hargrove
Buzz Hargrove
Basil Eldon "Buzz" Hargrove, OC is the former National President of the Canadian Auto Workers trade union...
, Lewenza's immediate predecessor as national president, was also previously a member of Local 444. Ken Lewenza, Jr., another Local 444 member and the son of former local president, now national president, Lewenza Sr., was a member of Windsor City Council
Windsor City Council
The Windsor City Council is the governing body of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The council consists of the mayor plus ten elected city councillors representing the city as a whole.*Mayor: Eddie Francis*Ward 1: Dave Brister, Drew Dilkens...
until losing his seat on October 25, 2010. His loss was seen to be part of a rejection by voters of union dominance in local politics.
The first President of Local 444, Charles Brooks, lead the Local 444 from 1956 until his death by assassination in 1977 Chrysler Motors employee.
External links
- Local 444, CAW website
- Rebecca Turcotte, "Laporte succeeds Lewenza to lead CAW Local 444", Windsor StarWindsor StarThe Windsor Star is the regional newspaper of Windsor, Ontario , and is owned by the Postmedia Network Inc. Since 1923, the publication's main office is located at 167 Ferry Street in the downtown area...
, August 11, 2008.