Virtually All Unifor Members Authorize Big Three Strike

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Unifor members at Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Stellantis have delivered crushing strike mandates, authorizing their bargaining committees to take job action, if needed, to achieve fair collective agreements with the Detroit Three (D3). Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. Unifor paused negotiations to hold the strike votes over the course of the weekend. (AutoInformed: Unifor Opens Contract Talks with Detroit Three in Canada; New Pattern Bargaining – UAW and Unifor Strike All Makers?)

“Canadian autoworkers have sent a strong message to D3 automakers that they are united behind our bargaining committees in an effort to improve pensions, increase wages, and secure good, union jobs in the EV future,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“Our bargaining teams are set to resume negotiations with the unwavering support of Unifor members across the auto sector. Make no mistake, our union is fully prepared to take any and all necessary action to achieve our collective bargaining objectives.”

Strike vote results

• Ford Motor Company: 98.9% in favor.
• General Motors 99% in favor.
• Stellantis 98.1% in favor.

The current Detroit 3 collective agreements expire at 11:59 p.m. on 18 September 2023. The union opened formal negotiations with the automakers on 10 August in Toronto, representing 18,000 autoworkers covered by collective agreements.