Oshawa, Ontario — General Motors’ Unifor members from St. Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock voted in a staggering 85 percent majority to ratify an agreement that will see job security and economic gains over the next three years.
According to Unifor National President, Jerry Dias, this $1.3 billion dollar investment will not only bring 1,700 jobs to Oshawa, but will also ensure that jobs at all three Canadian sites are secure for the entirety of this agreement. Along with seeing $109 million towards in-sourcing transmission work for the Corvette and continued V8 engine production in St. Catharines.
This contract follows similar contracts reached with Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles this year that also see investments in the Canadian automotive industry. All three deals will see nearly $5 billion invested into the Canadian automotive industry and its economy, with Dias calling it a “hat trick” that will “breathe new life into Canada’s auto sector”.
This three-year deal takes after the historic pattern first reached with Ford that will see five percent increases to hourly rates, a $7250 productivity and quality bonus, a total of $4,000 in inflation protection bonuses, improved benefits, shift premiums and restoration of the 20 percent wage differential for skilled trades. Unifor and GM have also agreed to create an anti-racism action plan, establish a new Racial Justice Advocate in the workplace and will provide up to 10 paid days of domestic violence leave.
Unifor is CanadA’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
For more information visit unifor.org
