Unifor union members at Magna Integram in Canada ratified a new tentative agreement after a five day strike at the auto parts manufacturing plant.
"The strike action at the seating plant led to a fair contract. Unifor members at Integram have paved the way for higher standards not only for our themselves but for auto parts workers across the industry,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne in a statement published on Unifor's website.
“Together, we've shown that when workers unite, we can achieve great progress and set new standards for wages, benefits and work ownership throughout the independent auto parts supplier sector."
The tentative agreement covers 800 members at a plant in Windsor, Ontario, a tier-one supplier of seating products for the Chrysler Pacifica assembled at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant and foam seating parts for the Ford Bronco and Ranger built in United States factories.
"Unifor Local 444 members at the Integram seating plant showed remarkable resiliency by standing strong and fighting for a deal that makes them among the highest paid auto parts workers in the country,” said branch president Dave Cassidy in the statement.
“By ratifying this agreement Integram workers have clearly shown the benefits of union membership to all workers in Canada’s auto parts supply chain.”
The newly ratified 3.5 year contract includes wage increases of 15% over the life of the agreement with workers receiving an immediate 7% increase followed by increases of 3% in 2024, 3% in 2025 and 2% 2026.
Skilled trades members will also receive a one off special wage adjustment over and above the general wage increases of C$1.95 per hour. The agreement also includes a $5,000 productivity and quality bonus and three $1,000 inflation protection payments beginning in 2024.
Other details include across the board improvements to workers’ benefits which include waving the requirement of podiatrist recommendation for orthotics reimbursement, an increase in vision coverage to $400 every two years, the inclusion of laser eye surgery to existing vision coverage, an increase in basic dental maximum to $1,900, an increase in orthodontic coverage maximum to $2,500, extended mental health coverage to include registered social workers within the current psychologist maximum, coverage of one annual PSA test at a reimbursement rate of 90%, increase in dispensing fee coverage to $11 and extended coverage for the Shingrix vaccine.
The agreement also provides stronger job security language including work ownership over the current products manufactured at the facility and a commitment by the company to not outsource work.
The new contract expires at midnight on 8 May, 2027.
