Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, has announced an extension of the contract negotiation deadline with General Motors (GM). The negotiations are on behalf of members of Unifor Local 88 at the CAMI Assembly plant and Battery Assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario. The current contract was set to expire at 10:59 p.m. on September 17th, 2024, but negotiations will continue beyond that point.
Unifor National President Lana Payne stated that the union’s bargaining committee is committed to securing a contract that addresses the challenges faced by their members. She emphasized that progress is being made at the bargaining table and discussions will continue as long as that progress continues. While negotiations are ongoing, members will continue to report to their regularly scheduled shifts until further notice from the union.
Last month, members of Unifor Local 88 at CAMI voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action if a new agreement isn’t reached. A remarkable 97% of members supported the strike mandate. Unifor’s top priorities in these negotiations include improvements to wages, pensions, and job security for its members. They are also seeking to align future contract bargaining dates for Unifor Local 88 members at CAMI with the union’s main negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers (Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis).
Unifor’s pattern agreement with the Detroit Three was established in 2023, covering 20,000 auto sector members. However, Unifor Local 88 members are outside of this master agreement. Since their last negotiations, they have experienced extended periods of layoffs following the plant’s transition to producing the Chevrolet BrightDrop EV 600 and EV 400.
Unifor CAMI Plant Chairperson Mike Van Boekel expressed the bargaining team’s commitment to achieving a deal with GM that addresses the needs of its members, particularly considering the plant’s significant downtime. He emphasized the team’s dedication to securing the job and retirement security that their members have earned.
