Canadian Ford dealers moved one step closer to labour stability this week after Unifor and Ford Motor Company reached a tentative collective agreement covering 5,150 unionized employees at the automaker’s Canadian operations.
The tentative deal, announced July 11, is the first agreement in this year’s Detroit Three bargaining round and is expected to establish a pattern for upcoming negotiations with General Motors and Stellantis. A ratified agreement would reduce the risk of production or parts disruptions while providing greater certainty around vehicle supply during a period of continued market recovery.
The agreement applies to members of Unifor Locals 707, 200, 584, 1087, 240 and 1324 working at the Oakville Assembly Complex, the Windsor Annex and Essex Engine plants, and Ford’s parts distribution centres in Paris, Casselman and Leduc.
Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed and will remain confidential until members vote during ratification meetings scheduled for July 17 to 19.
“Securing this tentative agreement comes at a vital time for Canada’s auto workers and our domestic industry,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Every member of our bargaining committee came to the table resolved to reach a fair deal that protects good union jobs in the most challenging of economic times.”
Unifor said negotiations began June 22 and that the tentative agreement received unanimous endorsement from the union’s Ford Master Bargaining Committee.
“We look forward to bringing this tentative agreement to our members,” said John D’Agnolo, Chair of the Committee. “Our members put in the work on the shop floor every day, and our entire negotiating team made sure that work was recognized at the bargaining table.”
If approved, the agreement would provide labour stability at Ford’s Canadian manufacturing operations as the industry continues to navigate electrification, new product investments and broader economic uncertainty. It will also serve as the benchmark for negotiations with the remaining Detroit Three automakers.
