Unifor Has Provisional Contract Agreement with Ford Motor

“We leveraged our union’s most powerful weapon: the right to strike.”

Unifor said at 9:30 pm tonight that it has reached a tentative agreement with Ford Motor Company, covering more than 5600 members at Canadian Ford facilities. Terms were not disclosed, and it is subject to approval by Unifor members at Ford Motor (NYSE: F) in ratification meetings to be held in the “near future.” This means that negotiations can now proceed with General Motors and Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler – FCA), which were suspended when Ford became the target company.

“We believe that this tentative agreement, endorsed by the entire master bargaining committee, addresses all of the items raised by members in preparation for this round of collective bargaining,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We believe that this agreement will solidify the foundations on which we will continue to bargain gains for generations of autoworkers in Canada.”

The new tentative agreement covers members of Unifor Locals 707, 200, 584, 1087, 240 and 1324 at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant, Annex and Essex Engine Plants in Windsor, Ontario in addition to Parts Distribution Centers in Bramalea, Paris and Casselman in Ontario and Leduc, Alberta.

“In addition to reaching a master agreement, our members at each Ford location face their own unique set of issues that needed to be resolved by our committees at the bargaining table,” said Unifor Ford Master Bargaining Chair John D’Agnolo. “This agreement makes the kind of gains our members need today and adds greater financial security for the future.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. “The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future,” according to its mission statement.

“The agreement is subject to ratification by Ford-Unifor members. To respect the ratification process, Ford of Canada will not discuss the specifics of the tentative agreement,” Steven Majer, vice president, Human Resources, Ford Motor Company of Canada said in a statement following the Unifor announcement.