Unifor Opens Bargaining with Ford Amid Trade Uncertainty
TORONTO, June 22, 2026 /CNW/ – Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union, launched contract negotiations with Ford Motor Company on Monday, representing 5,150 members at Ford facilities across the country. The talks come at a critical time for Canada's auto industry, with U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles and parts creating significant uncertainty for workers and automakers.
The union has set a July 10 deadline to reach a tentative agreement with Ford. Negotiations are taking place at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.
Union Leaders Highlight Stakes of Bargaining Round
Unifor National President Lana Payne emphasized the importance of these negotiations, calling them “one of the most consequential rounds of Detroit Three bargaining in decades.” She noted that workers are feeling the effects of what she described as “Trump’s trade and investment war” in their workplaces, homes, and communities.
“We chose to work with Ford to establish the Detroit Three pattern because of the company’s continued commitment to its Canadian operations and a long-established constructive working relationship,” Payne said. “Unifor believes a fair pattern agreement at Ford creates the best opportunity to secure deals with GM and Stellantis.”
Key Bargaining Priorities for Unifor Members
Unifor is pursuing fair economic progress for its members, focusing on wages, income security, pensions, benefits, and key workplace advancements. The union also aims to help secure stable ground for Canada’s auto industry in an unstable industrial environment.
“We cannot sit idly by and hope for the situation to get better. Our job is to get the best possible deal for our members now and hopefully provide some sense of stability for them and their families,” said John D’Agnolo, Unifor Chairperson of the Ford Master Bargaining Committee.
Timeline and Next Steps
Negotiations with Ford are the first in the Detroit Three bargaining round. Dates for subsequent negotiations with General Motors and Stellantis have not yet been set. Unifor represents 320,000 workers across Canada in every major sector of the economy.
For the latest bargaining updates and resources, the union directs members to autotalks.ca.
