Unifor national president Lana Payne expressed encouragement after the union launched negotiations with Ford Motor Co. on Monday, marking the start of talks that will shape labour agreements for nearly 19,000 autoworkers across Canada.
First day sets tone for consequential bargaining round
“It is day one and we have a long road ahead,” Payne told reporters Monday afternoon after the first day of bargaining in Toronto. The union has described this round of bargaining with the Big Three automakers as one of the most consequential in decades, as the sector faces pressure from U.S. trade measures, uncertainty over North American trade rules, and increased global competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.
“There is no doubt that we face an unprecedented set of challenges here as we embark on these auto negotiations,” Payne said. “The most powerful leader in the world has repeatedly said that he is coming for our auto sector in Canada and our jobs.”
Job security and investment commitments top agenda
Wages and benefits will be key issues at the bargaining table, but Payne said job security is likely to dominate discussions. She said Unifor is also seeking clarity on “future investments and product commitments” from the automaker.
Ford was selected as Unifor’s lead company in this year’s pattern bargaining process, meaning any agreement reached will establish the framework for negotiations with Stellantis NV and General Motors Co.
“Our opening discussion with the company was frank, professional and focused on the work ahead,” said John D’Agnolo, president of Unifor Local 200 and chair of the Ford Master Bargaining Committee. “None of the distractions created by tariffs, by Trump or by the economy will lower in any way the standards of this agreement that must be met.”
Timeline and CUSMA uncertainty add pressure
The current collective agreements covering Ford, Stellantis and General Motors workers expire Sept. 20. The union is seeking new three-year contracts and has set a July 10 target date to reach a tentative agreement with Ford.
“We look forward to constructive, good-faith discussions to reach a fair agreement with the goal of providing stability for our workforce while securing the long-term competitiveness of our Canadian manufacturing operations,” a Ford spokesperson said in an email.
Adding to the uncertainty is the review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Talks have kicked off ahead of the scheduled review date on July 1, which has taken on added significance after U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea of increasing U.S. content requirements in North American-made vehicles and has pushed automakers to move operations south of the border.
Payne said the union cannot wait for more certainty around CUSMA before locking down a new contract with the Detroit Three. “It’s too risky to wait. How do we know when it’s going to be settled? We don’t know that. We have a lot of members, by the way, who need answers … at Brampton and at CAMI and at a number of our other facilities,” she said, referring to GM’s CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ont., and Stellantis’ assembly plant in Brampton, Ont. “Waiting a year is not going to improve conditions for them.”
