Ford Motor Company and Unifor have come to a preliminary agreement on a three-year labor contract, with specific terms to be disclosed later. Unifor represents approximately 5,000 employees across five plants in southern Ontario and one in Alberta.
Negotiations commenced at the end of the previous month, coinciding with the expiration of agreements at major American automakers like Stellantis and General Motors. The union chose to initiate talks with Ford first, with plans to engage with the other two automakers once the Ford deal is approved.
Workers at Ford will have an opportunity to vote on the contract between July 17 and 19, according to Unifor, with results to be announced following the final tally. Ford of Canada has stated it will not divulge the specifics of the tentative agreement to honor the ratification process.
John D’Agnolo, Unifor Ford Master Bargaining Chair from Windsor, Ontario, expressed anticipation in presenting the agreement to members, emphasizing the team’s dedication to recognizing the efforts of workers on the factory floor. Unifor initiated negotiations with Ford last month as part of efforts to secure improved compensation, job stability, and benefits for its nearly 19,000 members across Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
The agreement is contingent upon approval by Ford-Unifor members, as the current collective agreements with automakers are set to expire on September 20. The union began discussions earlier than usual due to challenging economic circumstances, with thousands of workers facing layoffs as companies adjust production operations at various facilities.
