Unifor Sets GM Agreement Deadline

Unifor announced it has set an Oct. 9 deadline for contract negotiations with General Motors in Canada, the union said.

The automaker has until 11:59 p.m. that day to reach an agreement with Unifor, which represents about 4,300 workers at three GM facilities in Canada, noted a letter on the union’s website. 

Unifor is negotiating with GM to secure a tentative agreement that aligns with the deal reached with Ford this month, reported CBS News.

"Your bargaining committees are now focused on locking in the pattern agreement at General Motors. All the significant increases to pensions, wages, health benefits, and more must now be bargained with the company," the letter reads "The gains negotiated in the pattern include the best wage package ever negotiated in the union's history, as well as reducing the grow-in from 8 years to 4 years, a $10,000 productivity and quality bonus for full-time employees and a $4,000 bonus for TPTs."

The union ratified a new three-year agreement with Ford of Canada just before members were to strike on Sept. 18, but an offer from Ford led to a 24-hour extension and an extra day of negotiations.

The deal with Ford resulted in an increase of almost 20% in base hourly pay for production workers over three years and over 25% for trade workers. It also gave permanent workers a $10,000 bonus and included a cost-of-living adjustment, CBS News reported.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today