Unifor President Lana Payne stated 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 stated in a press release.
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 periods held later this week, a Unifor spokesperson stated.
But given the present labour atmosphere and the focused UAW strikes ongoing within the United States, the result of the ratification vote isn’t any assure, stated Larry Savage, chair of the labour 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 data 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 robust place to play catch-up on this spherical of bargaining, Savage stated. 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 factors are sufficient to sway hourly Ford employees, nevertheless, should wait till the vote, Savage stated.
NO GUARANTEE
The tentative deal wouldn’t be the primary endorsed by Unifor’s bargaining committees to be lately 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 stated.
The ratification vote for Ford employees in Canada additionally comes in opposition to the backdrop of a potential 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 stated the union will increase the strike.
—Greg Layson contributed to this report
Source: canada.autonews.com