- CAW Local 444
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 theChrysler Division of UAW Local 195, Local 444 became a stand-alone union (then affiliated with the U.S.-basedUnited Auto Workers ) in 1956. Local 444 has continued to grow substantially since that time.Based in
Windsor, Ontario ,Canada , CAW Local 444 currently represents over 5000Chrysler Canada employees who work at that company's Windsor assembly plant, as well as a number of other Windsor-area employees of Benteler Automotive,Caesars Windsor casino, Dakkota Integrated Systems, HBPO Canada, Integram Seating (Magna International ),Johnson Controls , Oakley Sub Assembly Windsor, Presteve and Etna Foods, TransAlta Energy andTRW Automotive .The current president of Local 444 is Rick Laporte. Laporte replaced
Ken Lewenza, Sr. , 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., is currently a member ofWindsor City Council .External Link
* [http://local444.caw.ca/index.html Local 444, CAW website]
*Rebecca Turcotte, [http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/local/story.html?id=48ab64a9-fdef-441a-b1ac-82b328ab0524 "Laporte succeeds Lewenza to lead CAW Local 444"] , "Windsor Star ", August 11, 2008.
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