Canadian auto workers union Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Ford, averting a strike at its Canadian operations, after extending a midnight deadline and bargaining through the night.
"I'm very pleased to announce that on behalf of the more than 6,000 members who work at Ford, we have negotiated C$1.95bn of investments to retool the Oakville complex to build five models of electric vehicles and bring new product to the engine plant in Windsor," said Jerry Dias, Unifor national president.
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"Today is an historic day. We are not only talking about solidifying the footprint of the auto industry in the short term, but for the long term. I think it's fair to say that as an organization we hit a home run," said Dias.
Details of the tentative agreement will be presented to members at a series of virtual ratification meetings over the weekend and includes significant commitments for Ford's Canadian manufacturing facilities.
"Up until today, of the $300bn announced globally in EV investments as the auto industry transforms from combustible engines to battery electric vehicles, not one nickel had been allocated to Canada. That changes," Dias said.
Dias also announced Fiat Chrysler would be the next Detroit Three bargaining target.
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