“The end result was not the result we were hoping for, it shows the true colors of GM. They have the capability to produce globally, and that is where our fight must continue. Our strike truly shows that unless the government takes an active interest in saving jobs, the corporations will continue to look elsewhere for every cent of profit,” said Mike Van Boekel, Unifor Local 88/GM-CAMI Bargaining Committee Chair.
Unifor Local 88 members working at GM CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll ratified an Agreement by 85.9% and Trades by 78.7%. Unifor Local 88 members attended local ratification meeting today and voted to ratify a four-year contract after a 4-week strike.
In a clear victory for General Motors the agreement does not get what Unifor said it wanted since workers walked out on Sept. 17 – a pledge from GM that Ingersoll jobs wouldn’t be sent to the carmaker’s two plants in Mexico. Those plants also assemble the company’s strong selling Chevrolet Equinox. To be fair, Unifor was taking on a rich, powerfull American corporation and the NAFTA treaty as well.
“Despite our every effort, General Motors steadfastly refused to accept our members’ reasonable demand to designate the CAMI plant as General Motors lead producer for the Chevy Equinox,” Unifor president Jerry Dias told local union members voting on the tentative deal.
The new Agreement provide for wage increases (4% annually), improvements to the new hire program, lump sum payments (CA$2,000 annually for four years), better benefits and – allegedly – increases the level of job security.
Mike Van Boekel, Unifor Local 88 Chairperson GM CAMI, spun the deal this way, “This new collective agreement is a testament to the membership standing together to fight for the future of auto and our communities.”
Ouch.
Production will start Tuesday Midnight “C” Shift – Monday, October 16, 2017 at 11pm.
The following are voluntary overtime opportunities for early start up:
- Trades (All Departments) “Night” Shift, 4-hour opportunity from 7pm to 11pm
- Production Weld & Paint “C” Shift Team Leaders, 4-hour opportunity from 7pm to 11pm
- Production Assembly & Quality “C” Shift Team Leaders, 2-hour opportunity from 9pm to 11pm
- Production Material Handling Weld “C” Shift Team Leaders, 4-hour opportunity from 7pm to 11pm
- Production Material Handling Assembly “C” Shift Team Leaders, 2-hour opportunity from 9pm to 11pm
- Production Stamping no voluntary overtime opportunity
