Former Unifor president Jerry Dias being investigated by Toronto Police Financial Crimes Unit

Unifor handed the money over to police April 4.

“It will now be for Toronto Police to decide whether to investigate any matter connected to that money, and Unifor has no role in that decision,” the union said in a statement. “Unifor is not making further public comment on this matter at this time.”

The Toronto Police Service wasn’t immediately available for comment.

It’s alleged that Dias gave a Unifor employee half of the $50,000 he is said to have accepted, telling the employee that it had come from the supplier. That member turned the money into the union, triggering an investigation. The union says the incident did not involve any Unifor finances.

Unifor says that an independent, external investigator determined that “on a balance of probabilities the interaction with the supplier breached  Article 4, Code of Ethics and Democratic Practices, of the Unifor Constitution.”

Based on the findings, Dias now stands charged with violating the Unifor Constitution. 

As outlined in the union’s constitution, a hearing will be held before the National Executive Board (NEB) where Dias will be provided the opportunity to present information and arguments concerning the charge.