Reflections of Our Past

C.A.W. Local 636 is an amalgamated local union which represents approximately 2,400 workers in twenty different plants located in Woodstock, Ontario and the immediately surrounding area. Local 636 members produce, warehouse and supply products for various sectors of the economy including the auto parts, transportation, construction, dairy products, animal feed and gas industries, to name but a few.

Local 636 is an affilliate local of the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (C.A.W. - Canada) and received its official charter on November 2, 1944. At the time of its official charter Local 636 was an affilliate of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (U.A.W.), an international union. In 1985, along with Canada's other U.A.W. locals, Local 636 helped form the C.A.W. - Canada.

The initial groundwork of organizing workers and forming a local union was undertaken by members working at the Eureka Foundry and Manufacturing Company (now known as Kelsey Hayes - Eureka Foundry) who achieved a 90% certification vote in Mid - 1943 after a bitter battle with the company, who initially fired all the workers and closed the plant for a period of time around 1941 - '42 when the organinzing drive began.

Shortly after the local received its official charter the Kirsch unit, whose members produced drapery and curtain hardware etc., joined the Local 636 family. Shortly thereafter Woodstock became a hub of organizing activity as workers recognized the need for and the benefits of collective action(s). Workers at Hay and Company (later known as Weldwood), Massey Ferguson, Wood Mosaic, Stewart Manufacturing and Standard Tube joined the local between 1946 - '51. In 1953 workers at Truck Engineering (later known as King Equipment) affiliated with Local 636 and in 1956 the workers at Ralston Purina did the same. All of these members and more helped to lay the cornerstones of a strong foundation for the present day Local 636.