Pattern bargaining
Unifor is likely to spend the next four weeks determining which automaker to select as its target for pattern bargaining. Historically, the first contract ratified by members sets the pattern for the other two. The union is set to announce the target on Sept. 8, less than three weeks before the contracts expire.
Union locals in recent days have also been urging members to register for online contract ratification and strike authorization voting, as Ontario’s COVID-19 restrictions essentially prevent in-person voting.
“There’s a lot of work to be done in a very short period of time,” Dias said.
The talks come as the automakers attempt to navigate the pandemic and its economic fallout globally. GM, for instance, reported a $758-million loss in the second quarter. Ford reported a 50 percent drop in revenue on the quarter, though it reported a $1.1-billion profit in large part due to its investment in Argo AI.
Rocky relationships
Unifor is likely to play up Canada’s strengths, including its educated and skilled labor force and a favorable Canadian-U.S. dollar exchange rate.
“If we can’t find solutions when they would print money here in Canada, then we’ll never find a solution,” Dias said during the July 7 edition of Automotive News’ “Daily Drive” podcast.
Labor relations between the Detroit 3 and unions in Canada and the United States have been contentious in recent years, particularly at GM. UAW workers struck GM’s plants in 2019, as did Unifor workers in Ingersoll in 2017. Unifor also launched a cross-border media campaign against GM’s decision to end vehicle production in Oshawa in 2019.
Union leaders are scheduled to meet first with executives at FCA at 9:30 a.m. ET, followed by GM at 11:30 a.m. and Ford at 2 p.m. Unifor leaders are then scheduled to hold a press conference at 3 p.m.
