Major issues ‘unresolved’ as GM, union continue talks ahead of Monday deadline

With a Thanksgiving Day deadline looming, union officials say there are “major issues left unresolved” as General Motors continues to resist key elements of the pattern agreement struck with Ford last month.

In a video address to union members Unifor president Lana Payne says while there has been progress made at the local and sub-committee tables, they continue to get resistance from GM on a number of important elements of the comprehensive pattern agreement struck with Ford.

The three year deal that was ratified with Ford included what the union said was the highest wage increases in the history of Canadian auto bargaining, improved pension plans and protections during electric vehicle transition.

“No one here expected getting this pattern with GM would be easy. It is wrong to assume that these employers will simply accept the pattern agreement,” explained Payne. “We knew it would be a challenge, particularly given the significance of the economic settlement with Ford.”

One of the major points of contention is with the full-time temporary workers classification. The union claims GM has several hundred full-time workers who are classified as TPTs when they should be transitioned to permanent employee status. Unifor says GM has consistently misused the TPT program and is currently withholding several hundred job opportunities from full-time TPT members at Oshawa, St. Catharines and Woodstock.

Payne says until this issue is resolved, there will be no agreement.

“We see this as a pattern agreement issue and we are adamant that it must be addressed. On this matter there is considerable disagreement between us and GM.”

Another major concern is concessions GM is asking for in relation to the retirees package that was worked out with Ford in the pattern agreement.

Payne says they intend to continue bargaining with GM throughout the weekend in order to try and reach a tentaive deal before the 11:59 p.m. Monday deadline.