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.”
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—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.
TILLSONBURG–Unifor condemns Adient management’s decision to suddenly close its Tillsonburg seating foam plant without warning, after operating in the community for more than fifty years.
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.”
Sector Facts and Figures Sector Facts and Figures OUTPUT Sector GDP Share of Canadian GDP $9.0 billion 0.5% TRADE Exports $21.8 billion Imports $43.5 billion Export reliance 64.1% U.S. dependence 57.8...
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.
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.”
Accessibility
Documents can be requested in alternative/accessible formats by emailing communications@unifor.org