GM and Unifor Reach Tentative Deal Covering 4,600 Workers in Canada

Canada's Unifor union has reached a tentative agreement with General Motors covering more than 4,600 workers across facilities in Ontario, following a week-long negotiation marathon. The deal brings relief to thousands of employees who had been watching the talks closely.

Four Facilities Covered by the Agreements

The tentative agreements cover workers at the Oshawa Assembly Plant, the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, as well as GM facilities in St. Catharines and the parts distribution center in Woodstock. Four different sites spread across the province — a clear sign of the negotiation's wide scope.

Lana Payne, Unifor's national president, stated that the agreements deliver strong gains in income and benefits for workers. She emphasized that the bargaining committee worked hard to reach this outcome amid challenging conditions facing the broader auto industry.

Agreement Details Await Ratification

The union has not yet revealed full details of the agreements, including specific wage increases and other financial provisions. Those details will be presented to union members during ratification meetings scheduled for August 29 and 30 — a date that now carries enormous weight.

Unifor's master bargaining committee unanimously endorsed the agreements. Yet the final word rests with the members, whose approval is required before the deal can take effect.

The Bargaining Path After the Ford Deal

Unifor's negotiations with General Motors began on August 10, right after the union secured a new collective agreement with Ford that included 3% annual wage increases over a three-year contract term, plus several other improvements.

The tentative deal with General Motors maintains the pattern established in the union's earlier negotiations with Ford. This is a deliberate strategy the union applies when bargaining with all major automakers operating in Canada to ensure consistent gains.

Canada's auto industry currently faces pressures tied to global trade, tariffs, and the uncertain future of production as the shift toward electric vehicles accelerates. Those factors make the upcoming ratification vote critical not just for the workers but for the entire Canadian automotive sector.

Once General Motors talks conclude, the union will pivot to a new round of negotiations with Stellantis, continuing its push to extend agreements across all major manufacturers operating in the country.