After vigorous negotiations and a coordinated strike, over 4,300 workers in Canada employed at various General Motors (GM) facilities have ratified a new collective agreement, according to Unifor, the country’s largest private sector union. A resounding 80.5% of the workforce agreed to the terms of the three-year contract, making their acceptance known through both virtual and tangible ballots.
The key locations represented in this agreement include the renowned Oshawa Assembly Plant, St. Catharines Powertrain Plant, and the Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre, all located within Ontario’s industrial heartland.
Unifor’s national president, Lana Payne, voiced her pride and admiration for the GM workers, applauding their unwavering solidarity during the strike action and the consequent ratification process. Highlighting the noble principles that fuelled the negotiations, Payne noted, “This agreement is a testament to the power of authentic collective bargaining. Our intention was to institute a greater degree of fairness and parity across auto workplaces, essentially to elevate everyone. We have indeed achieved that.”
The new agreement outlines are modeled after the terms established by Ford Motor Co.’s contract, which General Motors agreed to adopt merely 12 hours after Unifor members initiated their strike. Interestingly, this acceptance mirrors a similar outcome at Ford, where 54% of the union members voted in favor of the contract.
With the progression grid for wages dropping from eight to four years, workers can now ascend to the top pay rate in less time. This fast-tracking is especially significant for the majority of employees at the Oshawa Assembly Plant, many of whom joined the workforce after the plant reopened in 2021.
The new agreement paves the way for a 20 to 25% increase in wages for top-scale production workers and skilled traders respectively. It also sees the return of the cost-of-living allowance, a first since 2008, and a measure that will safeguard workers’ wages against the relentless claws of inflation. A new quarterly universal health allowance is set to extend its benefits to retirees, further showcasing the breadth of the agreement.
Moreover, this agreement promises enhancements for part-time workers, facilitating their transition into permanent full-time roles across the various GM facilities.
Having successfully brokered this important deal, Unifor has now set its sights on replicating these terms with Stellantis, another auto industry titan. With over 8,000 employees at its two assembly plants and casting plant, this company has a larger presence than either Ford or GM in Canada. Looking ahead, Payne is bracing for more challenging negotiations.
