Independent Parts Suppliers

Auto workers at THK Rhythm Automotive ratify new three-year collective agreement

Unifor Local 1859 members at THK Rhythm have voted to ratify a new collective agreement that includes general wage increases, a special inflation wage adjustment, new cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA), the reduction of wage progressions and the elimination of health and welfare benefit tiers. 

Unifor represents approximately 233 members at the auto parts manufacturer, located in Tillsonburg, Ontario. 

Active Dynamics workers end strike with improved wages and sick days

TORONTO— More than 250 members at Unifor Local 591-G have ended their five-day-long strike after ratifying a new collective agreement with Active Dynamics. 

“Congratulations to the bargaining team at Local 591-G for so firmly representing the needs of members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Unifor casts doubt on Wescast’s claims to keep the Wingham foundry open

WINGHAM, ON—A Wescast Industries internal company memo obtained by Unifor says the Wingham foundry’s overseas owners will not close the facility, a claim the union says is dubious.

“The record of Wescast management and its owner is one of broken promises, repeated violations of the collective agreement and disrespect towards workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our union is not going to take the company’s claims on faith. At this time, Wescast’s words are not worth the paper they’re printed on.”

Unifor condemns Wescast Industries for abandoning workers in Wingham

WINGHAM, ON—Wescast Industries’ decision to close its foundry operations will devastate workers, families and the community of Wingham, where the facility has operated for more than a century, Unifor says.

“Wescast and its overseas owners are turning their backs on the foundry’s dedicated workforce and the community that has supported them for generations,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The Wingham foundry closure announcement must serve as a wake-up call to every level of government that Wingham auto parts workers urgently need support.”

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.”