Unifor Local 199 first received its charter from UAW-CIO in December 1936 through the efforts of John K. Smith, George Campbell and Charles Williamson. These men organized the work force at McKinnon Industries, a subsidiary of General Motors in St. Catharines, Ont. The union membership totaled approximately 100 workers. Local 199 was one of the first Canadian groups to be included in the U.S. based United Autoworkers Union. In time the membership grew to over 1,000 by the time of the strike in 1948. By 1953 membership increased four fold to over 4,000. In 1940 workers at Anthes Imperial, Welland Vale Works and Shurly Works of the Welland Vale Manufacturing Co. joined the Local. Lincoln Foundry joined in 1951, Skillcraft Products in 1956 and Genaire in 1958.

From its inception, Local 199 was involved in the local communities it represented. In the 1950s they supported civil defense programs and in 1949 formed its very own Credit Union focusing on financial benefits for its members.

Other causes endorsed and supported by the Local included women’s rights, environment, human rights, and rights for the LGBT community. Local 199 supported recreational and sporting activities for its members and their families. Bowling, softball and hockey were some of the earliest activities. The Merry Macks, the women’s softball team, was one of the highest achieving sports teams. Men and women were equally encouraged and welcomed on various union supported teams.

In 1985 the Canadian units of the UAW broke away from their parent organization to form the new Canadian Autoworkers Union. The CAW had long struggled under US contract negotiations and felt it required a Canadian solution to negotiated settlements. On August 31, 2013 the Canadian Autoworkers Union and the Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) amalgamated to form Unifor, combining two of Canada’s largest unions. Unifor Local 199 and 523 united in February 2017. Local 523 largely represented workers in Welland, Ontario.

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Click here to view the Unifor Local 199 Fonds finding aid