Share
Unifor members,
With the bargaining deadline set for 11:59 p.m. today, the GM Master and Local Bargaining Committees continue to work diligently on reaching a tentative settlement.
Negotiations over the past week have progressed slowly, with master table and subcommittee discussions accelerating in the last 24 hours. As the deadline looms, our Union is committed to securing with GM the pattern settlement reached at both Ford and FCA as well as making facility-specific gains at our local tables. Unfortunately, on certain fronts, GM continues to fall short on matching the pattern with various matters still outstanding. Negotiations will continue over the course of the day.
In addition, Unifor leadership and GM executives continue to engage in high-level discussions on product commitments and investment allocations. Company executives arrived in Canada earlier this week to conduct face-to-face talks with the Union on this front. These discussions are proving to be challenging, as they always are, but progressing nonetheless. The Union’s objective in these investment talks is two-fold: stabilize the Canadian production footprint, including volumes, and work to expand the footprint however possible, for the future.
It is the Union’s view that historic product commitments at both Ford and FCA in the past month prove that Canada remains a prime location to build vehicles, powertrains and other critical component parts. Our aim in GM talks is to build on the success in these earlier rounds of bargaining. At this point, GM has offered no concrete commitments on future product plans as of yet, but discussions are ongoing.
Next steps
The Union is encouraging members to be prepared if strike action becomes necessary.
If a tentative settlement is reached, information will be posted at www.unifor.org/AutoTalks2020 Please continue to check that web page regularly for updates throughout the day.
A virtual news conference is set for 10:00 a.m. EST on November 5, where Unifor President Jerry Dias will provide an update on the status of talks. Information on that news conference, and how to attend, can be found at www.unifor.org
Plans remain in place for online ratification/information meetings to take place on Sunday November 8, 2020. Further information will be sent directly to members with respect to registration and online voting, so please stay tuned.
The union will continue to report on progress of talks with members, and will relay as much information on the status of talks as possible. Our objective is to be as open and transparent with members as possible, without undermining the integrity of the bargaining process. Please stay tuned for further updates.
