The labor union representing employees at General Motors announced that a significant majority of its members have approved the new contracts with the automaker. Following the agreement reached on August 22 between Unifor and GM for over 4,600 autoworkers in Ontario, union members conducted voting over the weekend.
In a press release on Sunday, the union revealed that the three-year collective agreements entail wage increases to $50.20 per hour for full-rate production workers and $62.71 per hour for skilled trades employees. Voting results showed that members in Oshawa, St. Catharines, and Woodstock favored the agreements with an 80.5% approval rate, while those in Ingersoll supported them with a 96.5% vote.
Negotiations initiated between the union and the automaker in response to the prior agreement with Ford reflect similar terms, including a three-percent annual wage hike. Unifor National President Lana Payne highlighted that these deals secure over $1 billion in investments for Canadian GM facilities.
GM Canada President and Managing Director Jack Uppal expressed satisfaction with the ratification outcome, emphasizing the support for employees, enhanced manufacturing operations, and the foundation for GM’s future in Canada. Despite challenges faced during negotiations, including the idling of production at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Unifor remains committed to restoring production at the plant and securing potential defense work for GM.
Additional investments in Oshawa and St. Catharines are set to boost production capabilities. Uppal detailed plans for producing the next-generation GMC Sierra Heavy-Duty trucks and transmissions at these facilities, indicating a total investment exceeding $900 million in St. Catharines alone.
The newly agreed terms include a cost-of-living allowance renewal, productivity and quality bonuses, and year-end bonuses for eligible members. Trevor Longpre, Unifor’s General Motors bargaining chairperson, emphasized the progress made in securing stable auto jobs and strengthening the Canadian automotive industry.
Amidst ongoing trade tensions, particularly the looming increase in U.S. tariffs on vehicles, the agreements with GM provide stability for Canadian auto plants. The fate of these plants remains a critical issue in trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada, with unresolved matters regarding duty cuts on essential vehicles for Canadian factories.