Unifor, the union representing 18,000 Ford, General Motors and Stellantis workers whose collective agreements expire in September, is set to begin contract negotiations with the automakers on August 10.
“Unifor will open negotiations at a critical time for the auto sector in Canada both in terms of the historic transition to electric vehicle manufacturing and the current economic challenges confronting workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Auto workers are in a position of strength heading in to this year’s Auto Talks. We’re ready to build on the gains we’ve made in the past, capitalize on the momentum of recent investments in the auto sector while taking the challenges faced by auto workers head-on.”
Following consultations with Unifor members, the union adopted the following key priorities at its pre-bargaining Auto Council.
- Pensions
- Wage package
- Transition issues related to the shift to electric vehicle manufacturing (e.g. retooling period)
- Confirmation of investment and product commitments, including specific product allocations and timelines.
