Auto sector workers represented by Canadian labor union Unifor have okayed striking against Ford and the other two major US automakers “if a fair and reasonable settlement is not reached before the September 19th [contract renegotiation] deadline,” according to The Truth About Cars.
Unifor, which is Canada’s largest private-sector union, is seeking new production assignments from Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in this round of contract negotiations. “The bargaining committee will not accept a deal without a commitment to investment in Canada’s auto sector,” says Unifor National President Jerry Dias. Unifor Ford workers voted 98.9 percent in-favor of striking if necessary, vs. 99.0 and 97.1 percent of FCA and GM workers, respectively.
As The Truth About Cars reports, authorizing strikes is hardly a new negotiation tactic; Unifor-represented workers did the same during the last round of contract negotiations with the Big Three in 2012, voting to permit the union’s bargaining committees to call strikes if needed.
Unifor entered into contract talks with Ford on August 11th. The union is hoping to find a target automaker by September 6th to use for pattern bargaining in talks with the other US automakers.
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