After securing a new three-year contract with Ford Motor Co. earlier this month, that provides generous wage increases to Ford factory workers, Canada’s union that represents autoworkers announced the next auto company it will negotiate with will be General Motors.
Unifor said in a statement on July 21 it will start contract negotiations with GM on Aug. 10. The union represents more than 4,600 members at GM’s facilities in Ontario, including Oshawa Assembly, Ingersoll Assembly (CAMI), St. Catharines Propulsion and Woodstock Distribution Centre.
The current contract Unifor has with the Detroit Three automakers expires at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 20 and any incoming agreements will expire Sept. 19, 2029. In the states, the UAW’s contract with Detroit automakers does not expire until May 1, 2028, but the union and lawmakers are watching that Unifor wins closely.
Unifor is doing pattern bargaining, meaning it started negotations with Ford for a new contract on June 22 and reached the tentative agreement on July 11. The 5,150 members who work at Ford Canada’s factories ratified that agreement on July 19. Unifor will use the new Ford contract as a template for bargaining with GM and then, lastly, Stellantis.
In a statement, GM spokesman Kevin Kelly said, “GM Canada is committed to working collaboratively with our Unifor partners to reach new labor agreements that support our employees and the long-term success of our Canadian operations. Since 2020, we have invested approximately $3.3 billion ($2.34 billion U.S.) in our Canadian manufacturing plants, enabling next-generation products that will help secure thousands of Canadian jobs for years to come.”
In the new three-year Ford contact, Unifor won annual 3% wage increases each year for three years that pushes a production autoworker’s hourly wage to more than $50; a $12,000 annual bonus the first year; cost of living adjustments each quarter through the life of the contract; job security because Ford has promised to make investments at Essex Engine and Oakville Assembly plants; improved quarterly payments to retirees and pension gains, and more. Ford also agreed to not close or sell any facilities during the life of the contract.
“Our members have ratified a strong agreement that delivers real gains and much needed stability despite unprecedented challenges facing Canadian autoworkers and the entire industry,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said of the Ford contract in a July 19 statement.
Unifor’s negotiations with GM will take place at the Toronto Sheraton Centre. GM builds the Chevrolet Silverado pickup at Oshawa Assembly. GM’s CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, once built the Chevrolet BrightDrop all-electric commercial vans. GM ended production of the vans in October 2025 due to slower-than-expected commercial EV market demand hurting sales of the vehicles. The plant does not currently build any vehicles.
When GM initially scaled back production at CAMI last year in the spring, CAMI had about 1,300 employees. Unifor said in an October 2025 statement that it planned to meet with GM and both levels of government immediately “to press for a new product mandate and ensure CAMI remains a pillar of Canadian auto production.”
At St. Catharines Propulsion plant, GM builds the V8 engine used in a variety of its vehicles. GM’s Woodstock Distribution Centre is the largest of GM’s four parts distribution centers in Canada. It ensures the timely supply of parts for vehicle maintenance and repairs.
Unifor said for the latest bargaining updates visit people can visit autotalks.ca. Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector. It representing 320,000 workers across various industries in Canada.
Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer for USA TODAY Co. who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canada autoworker union sets date with GM to begin contract talks
Reporting by Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
