Ford Motor workers ratify agreement with Unifor, set precedent

globalnews.ca:

Ford Motor Co. of Canada confirmed Sunday its members had ratified a three-year contract with the automaker, setting the pattern for upcoming talks with General Motors and Stellantis.Unifor and Ford reached a tentative agreement Tuesday after extending a strike deadline by 24 hours.

At the time, the union said the three-year deal addressed all issues raised by members for this round of bargaining.On Sunday, the union said the wage increases amounted to the highest ever negotiated in bargaining with an automaker in Canada. In all, 54 per cent of union members who voted endorsed the proposed collective agreement, which includes a general wage increase of 15 per cent over three years.Lana Payne, national president of Unifor, issued a statement saying the deal will mean tremendous gains for autoworkers.“Your bargaining team pushed Ford of Canada on every front to deliver a contract that fundamentally transforms pension plans, provides protections during the (electric vehicle) transition and includes the highest wage increases in the history of Canadian auto bargaining,” Payne said.“We know this is a challenging time for all workers and this agreement tackles the affordability issues so many face today.”The contract calls for a wage increase of 10 per cent in the first year, two per cent in the second year and three per cent in the final year.Meanwhile, the base rate for hourly wages will increase by 25 per cent for those with a skilled trade, the union said.