Dave Cassidy is the first Skilled Trades chair for Unifor. David comes from a strong union background, with both his mother and father having both held elected leadership positions. He started his apprenticeship as an electrician right out of high school and was hired by Chrysler Canada in 1993.
He has been elected in various positions within the skilled trades ranks since 2002, including shop floor steward, skilled trades chairperson at the Chrysler Windsor Assembly Plant, and then as the president of the Windsor/Essex County Skilled Trades Council.
In 2005, he was elected to the National Skilled Trades Council as a Trustee then in 2008 he was acclaimed as the president of the National Skilled Trades Council of the CAW a position he held until the formation of Unifor. The CAW is one of the founding unions of Unifor, with CEP.
He served on the National Executive Board of the CAW from 2008 to 2013. In 2009, was acclaimed as the financial secretary of Local 444 which represents approximately 17,500 active and retired members, a position he still holds today. Dave sits on various boards throughout Windsor and Essex County and is front and centre on all issues related to skilled trades throughout Canada.
Dave has a very busy schedule but in his spare time he loves coaching his children in baseball and hockey and is a very devoted family man. He is married to a wonderful woman Jennifer and has three children Erica, Connor and Mackenzie.