More than 8,200 Canadian autoworkers, represented by Unifor, have gone on strike at Stellantis operations in Canada after failing to reach a deal by Sunday’s deadline.
A statement from Unifor revealed that workers have walked off the job at all Stellantis facilities in the country. This comes as part of ongoing negotiations between the union and the automaker, with Unifor seeking terms similar to those agreed upon with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors.
Unifor National President Lana Payne stated, “The union has made progress and will continue to negotiate through the night.” The union is pushing for Stellantis to agree to the same core economic terms it reached with Ford and GM. These agreements provided workers at the other two companies with close to 20 per cent wage gains over three years, among numerous other benefits.
On the other hand, a statement from Stellantis expressed disappointment at the strike action, with the company stating, “We are extremely disappointed in Unifor’s strike action and will continue to bargain until an agreement is reached.”
It’s worth noting that Stellantis has recently experienced escalating strikes from United Auto Workers (UAW) members at its U.S. operations. However, a tentative deal was reached with the UAW as of Saturday, potentially paving the way for a resolution in Canada as well.
The strike action by Unifor members marks a significant development in the ongoing negotiations between the union and Stellantis, with the outcome likely to have a substantial impact on the Canadian automotive industry. As the situation continues to evolve, both parties are expected to return to the bargaining table in the hope of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
