Unifor workers at General Motors Canada have initiated a strike after failing to reach a new contract agreement with the automaker. Unifor national president Lana Payne stated that GM has refused to meet the pattern agreement negotiated with Ford of Canada. Payne emphasized that the union members will not allow GM to break their pattern agreement. The company’s dismissal of pension demands, income supports for retired workers, and measures to transition temporary workers into permanent, full-time positions are key points of contention.
The strike affects approximately 4,280 autoworkers from Unifor Locals 222, 199, and 636, including those at the Oshawa Assembly Complex, CCA Stamped Products, the St. Catharines Powertrain Plant, and the Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre. However, it does not include Unifor Local 88 members at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ont., as they have a separate collective agreement and will continue their operations.
General Motors expressed its commitment to working with Unifor to reach a collective agreement. The company acknowledged progress made on various priorities in recent weeks but expressed disappointment in the inability to achieve a new collective agreement with Unifor at this time.
In a previous agreement between Unifor and Ford, wage hikes, pension and benefit improvements, and special measures for electric vehicle transition were included, along with the addition of two new paid holidays.