Ford and Unifor Strike a Deal, But the Clock Is Ticking

Ford and Canada’s Unifor union have finally shaken hands on a tentative three-year contract, just a few days after their self-imposed July 10 deadline passed. The two sides spent Friday locked in talks that stretched into the early hours of Saturday before reaching an agreement over the weekend.

Neither party is spilling details yet, but the deal covers 5,150 union members working at Ford’s Oakville Assembly plant, the Essex Engine Plant, the Windsor Annex, and several parts distribution centers across the country.

The contract, which received unanimous backing from the union’s Ford Master Bargaining Committee, now heads to a worker vote. ” National President Lana Payne added that the deal comes at a critical moment for Canada’s auto workers, calling it a fair agreement that protects good union jobs during tough economic times.

The union went into bargaining focused on job and income security, stable footing for Canada’s auto industry, and better pensions, retirement security, and health benefits. The talks unfold against a backdrop of uncertainty, with the Trump administration refusing to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement in its current form and pushing for more favorable terms.

If Ford workers approve this contract, attention will shift to General Motors and Stellantis. Unifor plans to use the Ford deal as a template and aims to wrap up all negotiations before current contracts expire on September 20.