Ford Motor Company and Unifor have reached a preliminary three-year labor agreement, with specific terms to be disclosed at a later time. Unifor represents about 5,000 employees across five facilities in southern Ontario and one in Alberta.
Negotiations commenced at the end of the previous month concurrently with contract expirations at major American automakers, including Stellantis and General Motors. The union opted to initiate talks with Ford first and plans to engage with the other two automakers following the ratification of the Ford deal.
Workers at Ford will have the opportunity to vote on the agreement from July 17 to 19, with the results announced after the final tally. Ford of Canada has refrained from discussing the details of the tentative agreement to uphold the ratification process.
John D’Agnolo, Unifor Ford Master Bargaining Chair from Windsor, Ontario, expressed anticipation in presenting the tentative deal to members, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the efforts of workers and the negotiating team. Unifor began negotiations with Ford last month as part of broader contract discussions with Detroit’s Big Three automakers, aiming to secure improved wages, job security, and benefits for its nearly 19,000 members.
The agreement is contingent upon approval by Ford-Unifor members, while existing collective agreements between Unifor and the automakers are set to expire on September 20. The union initiated talks earlier than usual due to deteriorating economic conditions, as several facilities have experienced production shifts or stoppages leading to layoffs of approximately 6,000 workers.