Canada : Unifor to name negotiating target next week in talks with automakers
Unifor says it will announce on Sept. 6 which one of Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler will be its target company in the opening round of negotiations for a new
Announcement of the bargaining target is set for 10 a.m. ET in Toronto.
The union, which says its represents more the 23,000 Canadians workers at the Detroit Three, typically names a target company that sets the pattern for bargaining with the rest of the industry.
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Unifor says it is looking for the Detroit Three to commit to investing in Canada facilities.
In an interview with CBC News, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said the union has concerns for the future of Ontario plants — General Motors in Oshawa, Ford in Windsor and Fiat Chrysler in Brampton, .
"There is a lot at stake in this set of negotiations, and we need to solidify the footprint this time around," he said.
The key issue is not wages and benefits, but it's "making sure that our plants remain open and build [vehicles] for the short term and the long term," Dias added.
Earlier this week, the union said it had received a strong strike mandate from its members as it prepares to negotiate contracts.
The union has threatened job action if it doesn't get an agreement before midnight on Sept. 19.