Unifor has begun inside preparations for subsequent yr’s contract negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers, and has opened communications with the United Auto Employees, as the 2 unions put together to discount with Ford, Common Motors and Stellantis in the identical yr for the primary time.
“Work has began,” stated Unifor’s newly elected President Lana Payne on the launch of the union’s new auto coverage Aug. 11.
“We’ll be working actually arduous over the approaching yr to try this work and have our committees prepared.”
Unifor represents about 22,000 staff on the three automakers’ Canadian meeting operations and has sometimes negotiated contracts on four-year phrases. In 2020, nonetheless, the union opted to barter a three-year deal that might realign its contract talks to coincide with these of the UAW.
On the time, former Unifor President Jerry Dias stated the technique would forestall the Canadian union from “enjoying catch-up” on product mandates secured by the UAW, which bargained a yr earlier.
Payne stated Unifor has “good relationships” with the UAW and can proceed to have “essential discussions” with its American counterpart as every union heads into bargaining subsequent yr.
“I feel it’s actually vital that we’re each moving into the identical yr, and [it] provides us extra energy on the bargaining desk doing so.”
With the 2023 talks nonetheless a yr away, dialogue with the UAW stays on the very early phases, stated John D’Agnolo, president of Unifor Native 200 and chair of the Unifor Auto Council. D’Agnolo attended the UAW’s latest conference as a part of a Unifor delegation.
“Communication is essential, and each the UAW aspect and our aspect got here collectively simply to make it possible for we’re all on the identical web page.”
The UAW declined to remark.
Jacqueline Oliva, head of labour relations and human sources for Stellantis in Canada, stated the corporate appears to be like ahead to working with Payne in her new submit as Unifor president, however Stellantis has not begun any discussions with the union about 2023 bargaining. The automaker wouldn’t say if the brand new bargaining timeline would change the corporate’s method to contract talks.
GM and Ford didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Unifor’s new 29-point auto coverage, geared toward steering Canadian automotive towards progress, can even affect the union’s method to auto bargaining subsequent yr, Payne stated.
“This isn’t nearly constructing a correct industrial technique for Canada, however will inform a number of the conversations that can happen at bargaining.”
Amongst different suggestions, the brand new coverage asks Ottawa to make sure all commerce agreements embody “sturdy and enforceable labour provisions,” which may help Unifor on the bargaining desk by making low-cost jurisdictions much less enticing for automotive funding.
Unifor’s key collective agreements with the Detroit Three expire on Sept. 18, 2023.