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CAW Founder Bob White Dies

Bob White, a founder of the Canadian Auto Workers union, has died at age 81.
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Bob White, a founder of the Canadian Auto Workers union, has died at age 81.

White participated in his first strike at age 16 and by 1959 was president of a UAW local in Canada. He and associates Buzz Hargrove and Bob Nickerson formed the CAW in 1985 after breaking off from the United Auto Workers union. The group contended that Canadian workers faced different priorities and needs than their U.S. counterparts and were underrepresented by the UAW.

White served three terms as CAW’s president. Hargrove succeeded him and led the union for six more terms.

White was a vocal foe of the North American Free Trade Agreement and other international trade pacts. He later became president of the Canadian Labor Congress, which represented some 2.2 million Canadian union workers.

In 2013 CAW merged with Canada’s Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union to form Unifor.

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