Unifor and General Motors reached a tentative agreement hours after the union said it launched a strike at midnight on Oct. 10, right after their contract had expired.
Approximately 4,280 union member auto workers went on strike at the Oshawa Assembly Complex and CCA Stamped Products, St. Catharines Powertrain Plant and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre in Ontario, in an attempt to put pressure on General Motors.
“The solidarity of our members has led to a comprehensive tentative agreement that follows the pattern set at Ford Motor Company to the letter, including all items that company had initial fought us on such as pensions, retiree income supports and converting full-time temporary workers into permanent employees over the life of the agreement,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne in a statement.
As of the afternoon of Oct. 10, Unifor’s strike action was put on hold so that their members could vote on the tentative agreement with GM, which follows the pattern agreement the union reached with Ford last month. Pay and pension were addressed along with a number of other things. Two highlights worth noting are the conversion of all full-time temporary workers (with at least one year of seniority at ratification) to permanent status; and the elimination of the use of the full-time temporary classification by Aug. 1, 2026, at the Oshawa Assembly Complex.
“All members will benefit now that the pattern is in place at GM, whether they’re temporary workers, new hires, or already at the top of the pay scale,” said Unifor Ford Master Bargaining Chair Jason Gale. Dealers interested in following the negotiation progress can view GM’s 2023 negotiations data sheet here.
