Canada's Unifor contract talks with Detroit 3 will target pensions, wages and EVs

Pensions, wages, transition plans to electric vehicle production and new investment emerged as Unifor’s bargaining priorities in upcoming negotiations with the Detroit 3 automakers.

Unifor’s Special Auto Council – comprised of active and retired members from General Motors, Ford and Stellantis  – met in London, Ont., May 17 and 18 to prioritize the demands that will be brought to the table when negotiations for the union’s 20,000 auto sector members begin in August.

“This is going to be a big year. One of the most closely watched and highly anticipated rounds of Detroit 3 bargaining that we’ve seen in a long time,” Lana Payne, Unifor national president, said in a statement. “The auto council has worked to identify our key, overarching priorities amid hundreds of specific proposals put forward by our members to set our strategic course. Our members expect us to deliver and they deserve it.”  

Unifor’s collective agreement covers members working at auto assembly plants, powertrain facilities, casting and stamping operations, parts distribution centers, office and clerical workers, as well as fire and security units.  

The auto council delegates raised concerns about rising inflation, income security during retooling for EV production, hiring and retention challenges and the unionization of new EV facilities. They discussed the sector’s economic forecast, the current Canadian manufacturing footprint and member pension plans, according to Payne.

Unifor has not yet announced which company it will select to set the contract pattern for the remaining rounds of bargaining with the other companies.

“We are in an extraordinary time in the sector, with thousands of members bracing for a transition to electric vehicles,” said James Stewart, chair of Stellantis’ master bargaining committee. “One of our primary priorities in addition to pensions and wages will be to secure details of these investment commitments including specific product allocation, transition timeline and income security protections during the transition.”

As workers face rising interest rates and record inflation, pensions and wages are top of mind for members, the union said in a statement following the auto council meeting.

“It is important that auto manufacturing jobs continue to be family and community supporting jobs, with solid, stable pensions and strong wages,” said Jason Gale, GM master bargaining chair. “Our members have been very clear with us that pensions and wage improvements form the core of our bargaining proposals.”

This will be the first year that Unifor’s contract talks will coincide with those of its American counterpart, the UAW.