The labor union representing employees at General Motors has announced that its members have overwhelmingly approved new contracts with the automaker. Unifor and GM reached a tentative agreement on August 22 for over 4,600 autoworkers in Ontario, with union members voting on the contracts over the weekend.
According to a news release from the union on Sunday, the three-year collective agreements include wage increases to $50.20 per hour for full-rate production workers and $62.71 per hour for skilled trades workers. Members in Oshawa, St. Catharines, and Woodstock voted 80.5% in favor, while those in Ingersoll showed a 96.5% approval rate.
Negotiations between Unifor and GM commenced earlier this month after a similar agreement was reached with Ford. Unifor stated that the wage increases with GM mirror the three-percent annual raises agreed upon with Ford. Unifor National President Lana Payne highlighted that the agreements secure over $1 billion in investments for Canadian GM facilities.
GM Canada President and Managing Director Jack Uppal expressed in a statement that the ratified contracts support employees, enhance manufacturing operations, and lay a strong foundation for GM’s future in Canada. Despite challenges during negotiations, including idled production at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, the union will continue advocating for production resumption at the plant.
The agreements also entail a cost-of-living allowance renewal, a $10,000 productivity and quality bonus for eligible members, and a $2,000 December bonus for qualifying members. Trevor Longpre, Unifor’s General Motors bargaining chairperson, emphasized the progress made in securing stable auto jobs and reinforcing Canada’s automotive industry footprint.
The ongoing trade tensions, characterized by the threat of increased U.S. tariffs on vehicles, have added complexity to the negotiations. The fate of Canadian auto plants has become a significant concern in the unresolved U.S.-Canada trade talks. Automakers are seeking relief from existing tariffs to mitigate the impact on vehicle and parts shipments across the border. GM’s production of the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck in Canada is particularly affected by these trade dynamics.