Unifor, the Canadian union representing auto workers, is engaged in ongoing discussions with Ford Motor as the strike deadline looms. With just hours to go before the 11:59 p.m. Tuesday deadline, negotiations are still underway.
Earlier on Tuesday, Unifor announced that talks had been extended for an additional 24 hours following the receipt of a “substantive offer” just minutes before the initial deadline on Monday night. Despite this development, Unifor has advised its members to remain prepared for a potential strike.
Unifor represents approximately 18,000 auto workers in Canada, while their American counterparts at the United Auto Workers are currently on strike against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. The previous contract with Unifor expired in September, with negotiations commencing in August.
The original strike deadline for Ford was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Monday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, negotiations were still ongoing between Unifor and Ford, as confirmed by a Unifor spokeswoman. Ford expressed their commitment to collaborative work with Unifor in order to establish a blueprint for a thriving and sustainable automotive industry in Canada.
If a strike were to occur, it would greatly impact Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant. This facility is responsible for manufacturing Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus crossovers, as well as V-8 engines for F-series pickups and Mustangs, according to CNBC.
