Talks on new contract for GM workers in Oshawa, St. Catharines begin next month

Unifor will launch contract negotiations with General Motors on August 10, three weeks after unionized workers members at Ford voted overwhelmingly in support of a new three-year collective agreement.

The newly ratified agreement at Ford will provide three per cent wage gains in each year of the deal, enhanced job and income security measures, investment commitments, increases to pensions, better benefits and more for 5,150 Unifor members at Ford facilities in Canada. The agreement takes effect September 21 and expires September 19, 2029.

Unifor Ford members covered under the Master Agreement voted 74 per cent in favour. Salaried Bargaining Unit members at Locals 240 and 1324 voted 97 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively.

“Our members have ratified a strong agreement that delivers real gains and much needed stability despite unprecedented challenges facing Canadian autoworkers and the entire industry,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Negotiating during a crisis is never easy, but our driving goal was to make a wide range of improvements for all of our members building on the gains made in 2023.”

The Ford agreement’s job security provisions also include the renewal of a no closure agreement and program commitments at all Ford facilities, including a third shift at the Essex Engine plant forecasted for 2029.

Negotiations now move on to General Motors, with the union representing more than 4,600 members at Ontario GM facilities, including Oshawa Assembly, the now shuttered CAMI plant in Ingersoll, St. Catharines Propulsion and Woodstock Distribution Centre.

No closure agreements and staffing commitments will likely be part of the negotiations with GM, with Oshawa Assembly seeing about 700 layoffs and the loss of a shift at the beginning of the year and the spectre of additional job losses looming at the end of 2026 when the next generation trucks begin production.

General Motors will be the second Detroit Three automaker to enter negotiations with Unifor, following the pattern setting contract signed with Ford.

Negotiations will take place at the Toronto Sheraton Centre.

Highlights of the agreement with Ford include:

• Annual wage increases of three per cent
  •    Renewal of Cost of Living Allowance
  •    Full-rate production workers’ wages increase to $50.20/hour by the end of the agreement
  •    Skilled Trades workers’ wages increase to $62.71/hour by the end of the agreement
  •    Pathway to ‘Full Employment’ at Oakville Assembly
  •    USD $500 million investment over the life of the agreement in facility and tooling for Windsor operations
  •    USD $400 million investment in Oakville Assembly Complex to support Super Duty production
  •    $10,000 Productivity and Quality bonus for eligible members
  •    $10,000 special payment for members on indefinite layoff at Oakville Assembly Complex
  •    $2,000 December Bonus for eligible members
  •    Increase in Retirees Universal Healthcare Allowance payments and extend payments to include surviving spouses