According to Wikipedia, Local 222, with its 23,000 members, is not only the CAW's largest local, but also Canada's largest private sector local. Local 222 was issued it's charter in 1937, and struggled for their first contract in the famous strike of that same year. You can read more about their history on their website.
November 1, 2007.
Today CAW Local 222 voted unanimously to support their Executive Board's decision to oppose the CAW/Magna Agreement. In addition, the membership also unanimously endorsed a resolution passed earlier by Local 88 in Ingersol which condemns the deal.
Speaker after speaker spoke out against the Magna deal at a standing room only meeting at the Local 222 union hall on the shores of Lake Ontario. Pent up frustration bubbled to the surface as rank-and-file workers vented their frustration and disillusionment over the seemingly endless retreat of the union in the face of an industry in crisis.
"I have nothing but respect for Buzz Hargrove," began one worker, "but over the last few years he seems to have lost his way."
While others echoed these concerns, the potential implications of the Magna system on an already fragile and cutthroat industry were front and centre on most worker’s minds.
"It's bad enough that we are already forced to compete with each other for work," lamented one worker, "if this deal passes, Magna plants will spring up all over the place; how will the feeder plants in Oshawa compete against a company that can guarantee no labour disruptions?"
Despite the underlying anxiety of many, the determination of the leadership to take a stand invigorated the members of a local once known for its militancy.
"We're taking a position based on union principles," declared Local 222 President Chris Buckley to boisterous applause, "I warned the National Executive Board that I wouldn’t sell this to my members... I'm not going to lay down on this one.... Today we’re sending a strong message to the membership of the greatest union in this country and we’ll take that message with us to Council this December."
Wayne Dealy,
Member of CAW Local 385