Unifor reaches tentative agreement with General Motors

Unifor says it has reached a tentative deal with General Motors following strike action at three of the automaker’s facilities in Ontario.

Unionized GM workers had kicked off strike action at Oshawa Assembly Plant, St. Catharines Powertrain Plant and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre on Tuesday, after failing to reach a new contract with the U.S. automaker.

“The solidarity of our members has led to a comprehensive tentative agreement that follows the pattern set at Ford Motor Company to the letter, including all items that company had initial fought us on such as pensions, retiree income supports and converting full-time temporary workers into permanent employees over the life of the agreement,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a release.

The new tentative agreement covers almost 4,300 autoworkers at Unifor locals 222, 199 and 636.

Unifor says “strike actions are on hold to allow the membership to vote on the tentative agreement.”

GM Canada president Marissa West says in a statement that the agreement recognizes the many contributions of team members with significant increases in wages, benefits and job security.

The company says it expects work to resume at its three facilities on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the union blamed the strike on the company’s unwillingness to agree on the union’s pattern-bargaining demands on pensions and other supports for those retiring. Payne has also said there were unresolved differences when it comes to making sure temporary part-time workers are given a clear path to permanent employment.

“This strike is about General Motors stubbornly refusing to meet the pattern agreement,” reads Payne’s statement. “The company knows our members will never let GM break our pattern – not today – not ever.”

Unifor Local 88 members at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario are covered by a separate collective agreement and will continue operations.

Last month, Unifor has reached a tentative three-year agreement with the Ford Motor Company. The negotiations with Ford were expected to set expectations for what workers will get in contracts from General Motors and Stellantis.

Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union and represents more than 300,000 workers in various industries.