Tentative Agreement Reached Between Unifor and Stellantis, Ending Brief Strike
Unifor announced Monday that it has reached a tentative agreement with Stellantis, effectively ending a brief strike at the automaker. The deal comes as Unifor closes in on the third and final agreement with a Detroit Three automaker.
Last Sunday, over 8,200 workers represented by Unifor had initiated a strike at Stellantis facilities in Canada after failing to reach a deal by the deadline. However, negotiations between the union and the company continued throughout the night.
The strike, although brief, was seen as an important act of solidarity and determination by the union. A joint statement released by Unifor national president Lana Payne, Stellantis master bargaining chairperson James Stewart, and Vito Beato, Stellantis master bargaining acting vice-chairperson, acknowledged the strength of the union and the success of the tentative agreement.
This agreement marks Unifor’s successful negotiation with Stellantis, the automaker behind popular brands like Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. Earlier agreements were reached with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors, both of which also experienced short strikes by Unifor members.
Stellantis North America’s chief operating officer, Mark Stewart, expressed his pride in the negotiating teams and their dedication. He stated that the ratified agreement will benefit the 8,000 represented employees and ensure the long-term health of Canadian operations.
The tentative agreement includes the coverage of workers at assembly plants in Windsor, Ont., and Brampton, Ont., a casting plant in Toronto, and parts distribution centers in Mississauga, Ont., and Red Deer, Alta.
Unifor had been pushing for Stellantis to agree to the same core economic terms as the union’s agreements with Ford and GM. Additionally, the union sought specific commitments from Stellantis regarding its electric vehicle plans for Canadian plants.
Unifor confirmed that the agreement with Stellantis aligns with the pattern agreement, which will increase base hourly wages by nearly 20% for production workers and 25% for skilled trades over the course of the three-year agreement. The pattern agreement also includes improvements to all pension plans, the addition of two paid holidays, and other enhancements.
In the United States, Stellantis had faced escalating strikes by United Auto Workers members at its operations for the past six weeks. However, the company reached a tentative deal with the union on Saturday.
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