The union representing workers at the Detroit Three automakers in Canada said late Tuesday that it had reached a tentative new collective bargaining agreement with Ford Motor Co. in negotiations that went past a deadline a night earlier.
The agreement averts a possible strike by the Dearborn automaker in Canada, which is already struggling with pressure related to the UAW’s U.S. labor dispute with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, the owner of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat . Unifor had extended its contracts with GM and Stellantis to focus on negotiations with Ford.
Unifor National President Lana Payne noted the scope of the tentative agreement in a statement released after 9 p.m., without providing details in the near future.
“We believe this tentative agreement, which has been approved by the full collective bargaining committee, addresses all of the issues raised by members in preparation for this round of collective bargaining,” Payne said. “We believe this agreement will solidify the foundation on which we will continue to negotiate benefits for generations of automotive workers in Canada.”
A statement from Steven Majer, vice president of human resources at Ford Motor Company of Canada, said an agreement had been reached with the union on a three-year contract, but did not provide details.
“To respect the ratification process, Ford of Canada will not discuss the details of the interim agreement,” the statement said.
Unifor set out its negotiating priorities in May as pensions, wages, transition plans for autoworkers’ transition to electric vehicle production and confirmation of new investments and product lines, but recent comments from Payne listed pensions as a top priority.
Ford has 5,680 workers represented by Unifor. Most of them – 3,400 – work at the company’s Oakville assembly plant, which makes the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus, according to the union.
Meanwhile, a strike by about 13,000 United Auto Workers members across the United States neared the end of its fifth day on Tuesday. UAW President Shawn Fain threatened Friday to expand the strike if significant progress is not made by then.