After nearly eight hours on the picket lines, Unifor has announced that a tentative agreement has been reached for workers at its Canadian facilities — including the Windsor Assembly Plant
While more than 3,500 workers hit the picket line Monday just after midnight, the union continued to negotiate in Toronto
“It’s pretty miserable out (here) but we’re willing to do whatever we have to do to fight for what we want,” picket captain Shawn Bezaire said during the strike. “First strike for me, and probably for most (of the workers) in the facility.”
According to Stellantis officials, the last time Windsor Assembly was idled by a labour disruption was in 1986
Bezaire told CTV News demands included the pattern agreements already inked with Ford and General Motors, and he said their members are hopeful for pension improvements
In a statement to CTV News, Stellantis North America COO Mark Stewart said, “I am very proud of the negotiating teams and thankful for their commitment and focused effort in reaching a tentative agreement with Unifor. Once ratified, this agreement will reward our 8,000 represented employees and protect the long-term health of our Canadian operations. Out of respect for the bargaining process, we will refrain from commenting until the ratification process is complete.”
The tentative agreement with Stellantis follows the pattern agreement the union reached with Ford Motor Company and General Motors. Details of the agreement, including local and facility-specific information will be made available to members prior to ratification votes
Highlights of the pattern agreement include: Base hourly wage increases of nearly 20 per cent for production and 25 per cent for skilled trades over the lifetime of the agreement. By the end of the three-year agreement, a top-rate production assembler will be paid $44.52 per hour, in addition to a forecasted $1.61 cost-of-living allowance (a total of $46.13); a journeyperson skilled trades worker will be paid $55.97 per hour, in addition to a forecasted $1.61 cost-of-living allowance (a total of $57.58). General wage increases in each year of the agreement with 10 per cent in year one, two per cent in the second year and three per cent in the third year. Reactivation of the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in December 2024. Improvements to all pension plans. Wage progression reduced from eight to four years A $10,000 “productivity and quality bonus” for full-time employees and $4,000 for temporary part time (TPT) workers.Two new additional paid holidays: Family Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Stellantis has roughly 8,000 represented workers in Canada. Of that, Windsor Assembly employs 3,568 workers, and Brampton Assembly employs 2,443 workers
According to Unifor Local 444, Monday’s afternoon shift is expected to work as normal
