Ford reaches deal with union workers in Canada as UAW strike enters day 6
Published 3:53 am Wednesday, September 20, 2023
- GM workers with the UAW Local 2250 Union strike outside the General Motors Wentzville Assembly Plant on Sept. 15 in Wentzville, Mo. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)
Ford Motor (F) – Get Free Report shares bumped higher in pre-market trading after the carmaker reached a deal with Unifor, the union representing workers at its three Canadian plants, that avoids a second strike.
Ford Canada reached the three-year deal just hours before a midnight Monday deadline set by Unifor, which would have triggered strike action in assembly and engine plants in three different cities in Ontario.
“We believe that this tentative agreement, endorsed by the entire master bargaining committee, addresses all of the items raised by members in preparation for this round of collective bargaining,” said Unifor president Lana Payne. “We believe that this agreement will solidify the foundations on which we will continue to bargain gains for generations of autoworkers in Canada.”
Unifor, which did not disclose terms of the deal, also extended deadlines for talks with both General Motors (GM) – Get Free Report and Stellantis (STLA) – Get Free Report, while it ratifies its deal with Ford among union members.
Any impact those talks may have on the United Autoworkers’ Union strike in the United States, which enters its sixth day on Wednesday, remains unknown, although reports have suggested that the UAW has reduced its four-and-a-half year pay demand to 36%, down from its original position of 46%, as negotiations have progressed.
The so-called Big Three automakers, meanwhile, have maintained proposals that would boost union workers’ pay by 20%.
Around 12,700 workers are picketing assembly sites around the Midwest, including a Ford plant in Wayne, Mich., a General Motors facility in Wentzville, Mo., and a Jeep plant owned by Stellantis in Toledo, Ohio, since last week’s deadline came and went without a deal on pay and pensions.
UAW President Shawn Fain has said the union will unveil more strike targets, with more union members participating, by noon U.S. Eastern Time Friday, unless there is “serious progress” in talks with the Big Three.
“Autoworkers have waited long enough to make things right at the Big Three,” Fain said. “We’re not waiting around, and we’re not messing around. So, noon on Friday, September 22nd is a new deadline.”
Ford shares were marked 0.56% higher in pre-market trading to indicate an opening bell price of $12.63 each. GM shares, meanwhile, slipped 0.3% to $33.86 each. Stellantis shares were marked 1.5% higher in Milan.
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