Unifor President Lana Payne mentioned the tentative settlement addresses “all of the items” members raised as priorities earlier than talks opened in August.
“We believe that this agreement will solidify the foundations on which we will continue to bargain gains for generations of autoworkers in Canada,” she mentioned in an announcement.
The deal has been unanimously endorsed by the union’s grasp bargaining committee however requires sign-off from rank-and-file members earlier than being ratified. Voting will open after data classes held later this week, a Unifor spokesperson mentioned.
But given the present labor setting and the focused UAW strikes ongoing within the United States, the result of the ratification vote is not any assure, mentioned Larry Savage, chair of the labor research division at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
‘HIGH EXPECTATIONS’
“Even if the [Unifor] bargaining team delivered the best contract in a generation, it may still be voted down if it didn’t meet the high expectations of workers given the UAW’s militancy south of the border.”
The aggressive ways and public calls for of UAW President Shawn Fain over the previous a number of months has “raised expectations for autoworkers on both sides of the border,” Savage added.
Neither Unifor nor Ford has launched any particulars of the tentative settlement, although one supply with information of the talks informed Automotive News Canada that the union had been asking for wage will increase “north of 20 per cent.”
After years of belt-tightening at automakers, Unifor is in a powerful place to play catch-up on this spherical of bargaining, Savage mentioned. He expects “significant” wage will increase that outpace inflation, pension enhancements, and product line and funding ensures to be a part of the tentative settlement.
Whether these anticipated positive aspects are sufficient to sway hourly Ford staff, nevertheless, must wait till the vote, Savage mentioned.
NO GUARANTEE
The tentative deal wouldn’t be the primary endorsed by Unifor’s bargaining committees to be not too long ago voted down. In July, Unifor members at 27 Metro grocery shops throughout the Greater Toronto Area rejected a union-recommended collective settlement, leading to a monthlong strike.
“Unifor had negotiated the best contract in the sector, but workers still rejected the tentative agreement. Having the best contract didn’t matter if you still couldn’t pay your mortgage, or your bills, or pay for groceries,” Savage mentioned.
The ratification vote for Ford staff in Canada additionally comes towards the backdrop of a attainable escalation of UAW strikes within the United States.
UAW members at one Ford, one General Motors and one Stellantis plant within the United States have been on strike since Sept. 15. If “serious progress” isn’t made in negotiations earlier than noon Friday, the UAW’s Fain mentioned the union will develop the strike.
—Greg Layson contributed to this report
Source: www.autonews.com