Independent Parts Suppliers

Auto parts workers buckle up and join Unifor

Momentum to unionize continues to grow across Canada’s auto parts sector, after 600 workers at TRQSS Inc., a seatbelt manufacturer in Windsor, Ontario, voted to join Unifor.

“By joining Unifor, auto parts workers at TRQSS have taken an important step towards their objective of having the coverage, and security, of a first collective agreement,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Momentum is clearly building across the sector. Workers are standing up for themselves and saying loudly and clearly that they’re better off with the protection union membership provides.”

Thunder Bay workers pay the price for $9 billion Hitachi deal

THUNDER BAY—The number of workers at the Alstom Thunder Bay plant has hit an all-time low, a situation deeply aggravated by the Ontario government’s awarding of a $9 billion contract to a consortium run by Hitachi Rail, according to Unifor.

Auto parts workers adopt new bargaining agenda for contract talks

Unifor local leaders from across the auto parts industry gathered in London to hold the sector’s second-ever joint bargaining strategy conference and adopt a common set of goals at the bargaining table.

“Bargaining as a united auto parts sector is crucial,” Lana Payne, Unifor National President, told conference delegates. “We have to push employers to stay in Canada, build in Canada and grow good union jobs.”

IPS Bargaining Conference


Unifor will host its second Independent Parts Supplier (IPS) Collective Bargaining Conference on October 12 and 13, 2022.

The Conference will take place in the Bristol Ballroom at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in London.

Independent Auto Parts Sector Profile

Sector Facts and Figures Total GDP Share of Canadian GDP $8.0 billion 0.40% Exports $16.3 billion Imports $31.1 billion Foreign Trade Balance 5-year change -$14.8 billion -45.9% Total Employment (2021...
Independent Parts Suppliers

Unifor members at Pilkington Glass make major wage gains in new contract

Unifor Local 222 members at Pilkington Glass made significant wage gains in a new contract ratified on June 12, 2022. The three-year agreement covers approximately 100 union members who manufacture specialty glass products for the auto industry at the Whitby, Ontario plant.

Auto parts workers at UTIL ratify agreement, ending labour dispute

CONCORD, ONTARIO—Unifor Local 112 members ratified a new three-year collective agreement today ending a labour dispute at the UTIL Canada Inc. auto parts plant.

“The unity, strength and solidarity of Unifor Local 112 members displayed throughout this dispute was pivotal in reaching a fair settlement,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “I would like to congratulate union members on a successful ratification and the union’s bargaining team for their hard work and determination throughout the negotiations.”

Unifor members at Autoneum ratify agreement ending strike

TILLSONBURG, ONTARIO—Unifor Local 1859 members ended a five-day strike at the Autoneum plant today after ratifying a new collective agreement.  

“I would like to congratulate all Unifor Local 1859 members for standing strong, fighting for and winning a fair contract,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “This agreement would not have been possible without the memberships’ strength and solidarity as well as the hard work and dedication of the union’s bargaining team.”