Ford and Unifor have reached a tentative agreement that will save thousands of jobs and the automaker’s last assembly plant in Canada.
Ford didn’t have much to say about the three-year agreement, but Unifor described it as a “historic” deal which averted a strike as negotiations continued past the midnight deadline.
Unifor National President Jerry Dias said the agreement calls for Ford to retool Oakville Assembly and invest $1.95 billion CAD ($1.46 billion USD) into Canada. Thanks to this investment, the Oakville plant will “build five models of electric vehicles.”
Also Read: Unifor Selects Ford As Strike Target As Canada’s Last Ford Plant Hangs In The Balance
In a press conference, Dias said the first EV will roll off the assembly line in 2025. It will be followed by four other EVs with the last arriving in 2028.
Besides turning Oakville into an electric vehicle plant, the union confirmed “new product” for the Windsor engine plant. Details are limited, but Dias said there will be a new 6.8-liter engine.
Details of the tentative agreement will be presented to members at a series of virtual ratification meetings over the weekend, but Dias said Unifor worked hard to “set a pattern that secures future jobs for our members, and makes significant wage and benefit gains.” Of course, union members will have the final say as the agreement is subject to ratification.
We’ll likely learn more about the agreement shortly, but Dias confirmed Unifor’s next target is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. These discussions will likely be less tense than talks with Ford, but the company could be getting ready to drop the aging Chrysler 300 which is built at Brampton Assembly.
