Unifor and General Motors have initiated talks for a new labor agreement, commencing negotiations at a bargaining table in downtown Toronto. The union represents over 4,600 members at various GM facilities in Ontario, including the Oshawa assembly plant, CAMI facility in Ingersoll, St. Catharines, and Woodstock.
Unifor’s national president Lana Payne and GM Canada’s president and managing director, Jack Uppal, officially started discussions, sitting across from each other in a conference room with chairs lined up for the negotiation session. Payne stated in a press release on Monday that they are building on the foundation set by the agreement with Ford and are focused on discussing company operations and the future of auto jobs at GM in Canada.
The union has set a deadline of August 21 to reach a tentative agreement with GM. Uppal expressed the company’s commitment to the bargaining process and the importance of its employees in its success, highlighting significant investments made in Canadian manufacturing plants to secure future jobs.
In July, Unifor members approved a new three-year contract with Ford, featuring annual pay increases and program commitments at Ford facilities. Unifor and Ford also agreed on a program to assist laid-off workers from the Oakville assembly plant in securing full employment by 2027.
The negotiations between Unifor and the Detroit Three automakers, including General Motors and Stellantis, are expected to face challenges amid industry headwinds such as U.S. tariffs and the introduction of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada. Payne emphasized the necessity of fighting for the Canadian auto industry in the face of these challenges.
Overall, Unifor is striving to secure agreements that support employees while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of GM Canada.