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Unifor members at GM vote in favour of ratifying new contract

Unifor says workers at General Motors have a new three-year collective agreement, with 80.5 per cent of members voting to ratify the deal.
The new agreement will cover more than 4,300 workers at the Oshawa Assembly Plant, the St. Catharines Powertrain Plant and the Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre all in Ontario.
Unifor national President Lana Payne detailed her pride in GM workers’ solidarity throughout the strike action and ultimate ratification of the contract.
“This agreement reflects true collective bargaining,” Payne said in a statement Sunday.
WATCH MORE: Unifor reaches tentative deal with General Motors that mirrors Ford agreement
“Our goal was to bring more fairness and equity to auto workplaces and to lift everyone up. We did that.”
General Motors followed the terms set by the contract with Ford around 12 hours after workers went on strike last week at the Ontario plants and distribution centre.
#Unifor members at @GMcanada facilities in Oshawa, St. Catharines & Woodstock have voted by 80.5% in favour of a new 3-year collective agreement. The agreement was supported by a majority of production and skilled trades members.#AutoTalks2023 #canlabhttps://t.co/DJu3ywrE26 pic.twitter.com/IS2sBCatXI
— Unifor (@UniforTheUnion) October 15, 2023
The agreement cuts the wage progression grid from eight years to four, reducing the time that it takes for workers to reach the top of the pay scale. The union says this is especially significant for workers at the Oshawa plant, where the majority of employees were hired when the plant reopened in 2021.
Wages for those at the top of the scale in production are set to increase by 20 per cent and 25 per cent for those in skilled trades.
READ MORE: Unifor strike averted after Ford makes last minute offer
The agreement will additionally bring back the cost-of-living allowance for the first time since 2008 to help protect workers’ wages from inflationary pressure and will benefit retirees with a new quarterly universal health allowance.
The new contract is also expected to help many part-time workers across GM facilities take permanent full-time roles.
Unifor will now turn its attention to securing the same terms with Stellantis.
The company has more than 8,000 employees at two assembly plants and a casting plant and has a larger footprint than either Ford or GM.
Payne says she is expecting more tough negotiations ahead.
This report was created with files from The Canadian Press
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