Canada’s largest private labor union, Unifor, is still in talks with Ford and Fiat Chrysler to try and hammer out a new collective-bargaining agreement in the wake of wrapping up talks with General Motors.
Unifor’s hourly GM workers have yet to vote on the deal, but website Globalnews.ca reports that the tentative contract ought to send the message that the Canadian union is determined to secure investments from Ford and FCA. “We have been absolutely straightforward with the automakers that we want investment in Canada,” says Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “This shows that to the other companies.”
Unifor’s with GM, which will be voted on by members this Sunday, includes investments of $400 million Canadian (roughly $304 million US) in the Oshawa Car Assembly plant and $120 million ($91 million US) in the St. Catharines Engine plant. Ford’s currently-active list of Canadian facilities includes the Essex and Windsor Engine plants, as well as Oakville Assembly.
One aspect of the negotiations which may help Unifor extract new investments from Ford is the Canadian government’s recent switch from offering automakers loans to offering low-interest grants.
Ford’s Oakville Assembly plant currently produces the Ford Edge, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKX, and Lincoln MKT mid- and full-size crossover models. The Essex and Windsor Engine plants build the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 and petrol medium-duty engines, respectively.
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