Unifor reaches tentative deal with Ford, workers to vote this weekend

Unifor has reached a tentative deal with Ford Canada that includes nearly $2 billion in electric vehicle contracts.

Unifor National President Jerry Dias says $1.95 billion will be invested in Ford’s Canadian plants.

That includes $1.8 billion toward the production of five electric vehicles in Oakville and an engine contract that could yield new jobs in Windsor.

“I picked Ford to start with because I was incredibly worried about our Oakville plant,” @JerryPDias says deal was difficult but he feels “awfully good” about securing a future for the last Ford Assembly plant in Canada. @CHCHNews

— Lisa Hepfner (@LisaHepfnerCHCH) September 22, 2020

Dias didn’t provide details on how much money is coming from each level of government.

Workers had previously voted to support a strike if a deal could not be reached by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, with the future of the Oakville plant potentially on the line.

The 6,300 union workers at Ford will vote on the deal this weekend.

Ford’s deal on new products lines, shifts, wages, pensions and benefits will set the tone for upcoming talks with Fiat Chrysler and General Motors.