Unifor gets ‘substantive offer,’ negotiates with Ford past contract expiration

Unifor, the autoworkers’ union in Canada, and Ford Motor Co. continued negotiations Tuesday past the expiration of the union’s contract with the automaker.

The union said in a statement posted 20 minutes after the contract expired at midnight that negotiations would continue past the deadline, including a session to happen within the hour. Unifor instructed Ford members to remain at work unless they receive alternate instructions from the union.

“Unifor is extending negotiations with Ford Motor Company for a 24-hour period,” the union said in a statement Tuesday. “The union received a substantive offer from the employer minutes before the deadline.”

It said negotiations would continue throughout the night but members should “continue to maintain strike readiness.”

Ford of Canada spokesperson Said Deep confirmed the company agreed to continue negotiations beyond the contract deadline “to achieve a tentative agreement.”

“We will continue to work collaboratively with Unifor to create a blueprint for the automotive industry that supports a vibrant and sustainable future in Canada,” he said.

Unifor represents around 18,000 autoworkers at Ford, General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV, including around 5,600 at Ford alone. President Lana Payne signaled Monday evening that a strike was likely, but did not indicate a contract extension was on the table.

“A lot can happen in the final hours of deadline bargaining, and there is still a lot of negotiating to do,” she said Monday. “But we know where we stand here, and we are not wavering from our core priorities, especially pension improvements. We need Ford to deliver more to meet our members’ expectations and demands.”

Payne said in the event of a strike, all of the union’s Ford members would walk out, including at Oakville Assembly Plant, two engine plants in Windsor, and at parts and distribution centers and office and technical units.