The labor union representing employees at General Motors has announced that its members have overwhelmingly approved new contracts with the automaker. Unifor and GM reached tentative agreements on August 22 for over 4,600 autoworkers in Ontario, with union members voting on the contracts over the weekend.
According to a news release on Sunday, the three-year collective agreements will raise wages for full-rate production workers to $50.20 per hour and skilled trades workers to $62.71 per hour. In Oshawa, St. Catharines, and Woodstock, 80.5% of members voted in favor, while in Ingersoll, the approval rate was 96.5%.
Negotiations between the union and GM began after Unifor finalized an agreement with Ford. Unifor stated that its agreements with GM align with the three-percent annual wage increments negotiated with Ford. Unifor National President Lana Payne emphasized that the deals secure over $1 billion in investments for Canadian GM facilities.
GM Canada President and Managing Director Jack Uppal expressed satisfaction with the ratification, highlighting that the outcome supports employees, enhances manufacturing operations, and lays a solid foundation for GM’s future in Canada. Despite challenges such as the idling of production at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Unifor remains committed to advocating for the plant’s production resumption.
The ratified agreements include the renewal of a cost-of-living allowance, a $10,000 productivity and quality bonus for eligible members, and a $2,000 December bonus for qualifying members. Trevor Longpre, Unifor’s General Motors bargaining chairperson, stressed the progress made in securing stable auto jobs and a stronger Canadian presence.
Amid a backdrop of trade tensions, the Canadian auto sector faces uncertainty due to potential U.S. tariffs. President Donald Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on vehicles, impacting Canadian auto plants. The recent U.S.-Canada trade talks ended without resolution on key issues, including tariff reductions on crucial vehicles for Canadian factories.
GM’s production investments in Oshawa and St. Catharines were highlighted, reinforcing commitments to next-generation production lines. The agreements aim to bolster employment stability while addressing the broader challenges faced by the Canadian auto industry.
