Ford Workers In Canada Also Set To Strike

The strike by the United Auto Workers union isn't the only labor problem that automakers and U.S. car buyers need to worry about.

Ford operates one assembly plant in Canada, situated in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, Ontario. I Photo: Whpq Wikimedia Commons

Unifor, the union representing autoworkers in Canada, is preparing to go on strike against Ford on Monday night, as reported by Chris Isidore for CNN.

Ford hasn't provided any comments on how it envisions the contract negotiations proceeding, but Unifor President Lana Payne told CNN on Saturday that the two sides are far apart, especially on financial matters.

She stated that the union has rejected the first two offers from Ford, saying, "We're not close at all. There's a lot of work to be done to reach an agreement by midnight Monday." Ford operates one assembly plant in Canada, situated in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, Ontario.

The plant, which employs 3,400 Unifor members, produces the Ford Edge and the Lincoln Nautilus SUVs.

Ford also has two engine plants in Windsor, Ontario, just across the river from Detroit, with a combined workforce of 1,700 Unifor members.

Unlike the UAW, which has outlined its initial bargaining demands, including a 40% pay raise over the life of the contract, neither Unifor nor Ford has disclosed their positions on wage increase offers.

Nevertheless, the union is seeking significant wage hikes, pension improvements, as well as job security guarantees.

These issues are at the heart of negotiations between the UAW and the automakers currently on strike. Ford operates one assembly plant in Canada, located in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, Ontario. The 3,400 Unifor members at the plant are responsible for producing the Ford Edge and the Lincoln Nautilus SUVs."

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