Unifor union members at General Motors Canada facilities in St Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock voted 85% to ratify a new three year collective agreement that includes significant investments, job security and economic gains.

"This contract solidifies and boldly builds on GM's Canadian footprint, with a C$1.3bn investment which brings 1,700 jobs to Oshawa plus more than $109m to in-source new transmission work for the Corvette and support continued V8 engine production in St. Catharines," said Jerry Dias, Unifor national president.

"Jobs at all three Canadian sites are secure for the life of this agreement, including at the Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre, which will also see upgrades," added Dias.

Oshawa will be the only GM plant capable of producing both light and heavy trucks, and St. Catharines will produce the engines for those pick-ups.

"After Ford and FCA, this amounts to a hat trick worth almost $5 billion dollars," said Dias.

The Ford deal reached in September includes $1.95 billion in investments to bring battery electric vehicle production to Oakville and a new engine derivative to Windsor and the Fiat Chrysler agreement includes more than $1.5 billion in investment in a state-of-the-art platform to build both Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

All three contracts include support from both the federal and Ontario government.

"I want to thank both levels of government for supporting us. We went into bargaining in the middle of a pandemic, facing great uncertainty. Now we can proudly say these three contracts will breathe new life into Canada's auto sector," said Dias.

The new three year GM agreement follows a historic pattern setting deal first reached with Ford that includes 5% increases to hourly rates, a $7,250 productivity and quality bonus, a total of $4,000 in inflation protection bonuses, improved benefits, shift premiums, and restoration of the 20% wage differential for skilled trades.