Unifor Local 444 throws support to Marchand in bid for mayor

Unifor Local 444 and president Dave Cassidy have announced they will support candidate Matt Marchand in his bid to become mayor of Windsor.

The union’s backing comes less than a week after labour leader Dino Chiodo, the local’s former president, threw his support behind Marchand — the former CEO of the local chamber of commerce who stepped down shortly after announcing his run for mayor. “The Marchand for mayor campaign is about bringing business, labour, technology and community together to advance our community,” said Marchand, who is one of four candidates seeking to unseat Mayor Drew Dilkens. “The Unifor Local 444 support is much appreciated and welcomed.” But Dilkens said it’s no surprise that organized labour is rallying around his competitor, before Marchand has even put out a platform.

“The only endorsement I care about is that of Windsorites,” the mayor said Wednesday, suggesting organized labour is a specialinterest group.

“This guy (Marchand) has a history of putting special-interest groups first,” he said, referring to Marchand’s past associations with groups advocating for border truck routes through south Windsor instead of what ultimately was approved — the Herb Gray Parkway.

The mayor also defended his labour record as mayor over the last four years, pointing out that while council approved outsourcing city caretaker jobs, it was done without job losses.

As well, every collective agreement with city unions has been achieved through negotiation, without the need to go to arbitration and without strikes or lockouts.

“And we didn’t give away the farm,” Dilkens said.