A tentative agreement between Unifor and Ford Motor Co. of Canada remained elusive Monday afternoon, with the likelihood of a strike increasing “with each passing hour,” according to union President Lana Payne.
Unifor’s local and master bargaining committees remain at the table with the automaker’s negotiators, but as of 4 p.m., a tentative agreement had not been reached.
“Unifor has advised more than 5,600 members at Ford facilities in Canada to prepare for all scenarios, including strike action,” Payne said in a statement.
Unifor Local 707, which represents workers at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Complex, located southwest of Toronto, shared picketing instructions with members.
The local said it would establish picket lines at five locations around the assembly plant if a strike is called. Local leadership also called for volunteers to help set up the lines between midnight and 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Unifor’s current three-year contract with Ford will expire Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
As of late Sunday, Payne said progress was made over the weekend, but union and company positions remained “far apart.”
A strike at Ford facilities in Canada would put auto workers on both sides of the border on the picket line.
Strikes by UAW members at three Detroit Three plants in the United States entered their fourth day Monday. Unifor sent a letter of support to its counterpart union Sept. 15, saying it stands in solidarity with the UAW as it fights for a fair collective agreement.
Unifor’s bargaining committee secured an overwhelming strike mandate late last month, with 98.9 per cent of members at the automaker voting to strike, if necessary, when their current three-year contract expires.
Unifor workers at General Motors and Stellantis, meantime, will remain on the job regardless of the outcome at the bargaining table today. Over the weekend, the union took the customary step to extend its contracts at the two automakers to focus on reaching a deal with Ford.
The Unifor bargaining team pledged to remain at the table Monday to continue working toward a tentative agreement with Ford. From the outset of talks, the union has prioritized improved pensions and wages, as well as greater support for members during upcoming retooling periods.
Ford Canada would not comment on the state of talks or say whether it was making contingency plans to prepare for a possible strike.
