TORONTO—Unifor members at General Motors voted overwhelmingly to ratify contracts that secure new products and investment, while also delivering the wages and benefit improvements in the union’s pattern agreement.
“These agreements commit more than one billion dollars in vital investments to Canadian GM facilities, with a new single source next-generation transmission at the St. Catharines Propulsion Plant and the return of next-generation Heavy-Duty GMC Sierra production to Oshawa,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “GM is making these investments in both its highly skilled Canadian workforce and facilities at a crucial time, as our domestic auto industry is under siege by the Trump Administration.”
Negotiations with GM took place under challenging circumstances, with the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario idled and the majority of members on indefinite layoff.
The union made clear that it will continue to push for production to return at CAMI Assembly. GM committed to seek opportunities for the CAMI facility and designated it as the plant of first consideration for the allocation of Canadian Armed Forces defence work if that work is awarded to General Motors. The agreement also extends the Income Maintenance Plan to eligible members on layoff until May 2028.
“I thank the negotiating team for their hard work to reach this tentative agreement that delivers solid gains for our members at a time of upheaval for our industry,” said GM Master Bargaining Chairperson Trevor Longpre. “We made significant progress in securing good, stable auto jobs and a stronger Canadian footprint, but the work to bring production back to CAMI is not over. This agreement gives our Ingersoll members a bridge until we get CAMI workers back on the job.”
The three-year collective agreement mirrors the 3% annual wage increases in the Detroit Three pattern agreement, set by Unifor with Ford Motor Company. The contract increases wages for full-rate production members to $50.20/hour and Skilled Trades workers to $62.71/hour during the life of the contracts.
The new contracts cover more than 4,600 Unifor members at GM Ontario facilities in Oshawa, St. Catharines and Woodstock (the “GMCC” agreement) and the GM Assembly Plant in Ingersoll (the “CAMI” agreement).
Unifor members covered by the GMCC Agreement voted 80.5% in favour. Members covered by the GM CAMI agreement voted 96.5% in support.
Highlights include:
• C$144 million to add next generation Heavy-Duty GMC Sierra truck to Oshawa Assembly.
• C$215 million to assemble next-generation transmission in St. Catharines, with work anticipated to begin in late 2029.
• Prior commitments of C$691 million to support sixth generation V8 engine in St. Catharines and $63 million toward stamping and CCA upgrades in Oshawa enshrined in the collective agreement.
• Plan to mitigate layoffs at Oshawa Assembly.
• Renewal of Cost of Living Allowance.
• $10,000 Productivity and Quality bonus for eligible members.
• $2,000 December Bonus for eligible members.
• Increase in Retirees Universal Healthcare Allowance payments and extend payments to include surviving spouses.
View the Master and Local Bargaining brochures here.
For more information visit Autotalks.ca.