Unifor picks Ford Motors as lead company for bargaining in auto contract talks

TORONTO –

Unifor has picked Ford Motor Co. because the lead firm of the Detroit Three automakers to hammer out a brand new contract.

The union’s nationwide president Lana Payne says bargaining with Ford will function a blueprint for staff at General Motors and Stellantis, because the union focuses on securing electrical automobile manufacturing investments.

She instructed a news convention in Toronto in the present day that she is inspired by Ford’s transparency with the union in key areas, however warned staff are ready to strike if needed.

Unifor members at Ford have voted 98.9 per cent in favour of a strike if the bargaining committee fails to safe a brand new collective settlement.

The union kicked off negotiations with the U.S. auto firms earlier this month because the contract for 18,000 staff on the Detroit Three is scheduled to run out on Sept. 18.

Ford was picked because the goal firm throughout the 2020 auto contract bargaining.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Aug. 29, 2023.