Ford contract negotiations ‘most challenging among the Detroit Three’: Unifor

TORONTO – The union representing 6,700 autoworkers at Ford’s operations in Canada said late Monday that despite some movement in bargaining it wasn’t confident that a deal between the two sides could be reached before a looming strike deadline.

The statement came only hours before a midnight Monday night strike deadline.

Unifor spokeswoman Denise Hammond told a media briefing that the talks were “moving in the right direction” and the two sides are “closer to reaching a deal.”

READ MORE: ‘Minor progress’ in ‘painfully slow’ contract negotiations with Ford: Unifor

But Hammond said there were too many issues unresolved to feel confident, including future investment and Ford’s demand for concessions long-term health-care plan.

Unifor president Jerry Dias has said that his top priority in the talks is securing investment in Ford’s engine facility in Windsor, Ont.

Hammond said the automaker was refusing to follow the pattern of deals reached in recent weeks with General Motors and Fiat Chrysler without several concessions, including the immediate introduction of temporary full-time workers that would receive a lower starting wage.

2:47 No tentative agreement reached between Unifor, Ford

WATCH ABOVE: As of 8 p.m. ET, contract negotiations were still going on between Unifor and Ford. 

Hammond said if there wasn’t an agreement by midnight, Ford workers at Ontario operations in Bramalea, Oakville and Windsor were prepared to go on strike immediately.

“Our strike co-ordinators have been instructed to set up picket lines effective 12:01 a.m.,” she said.

“Movement by the employer is now evident, but there is a lot of work to do and a lot to do ahead of us,” Hammond said.

Both Fiat Chrysler and General Motors have agreed to invest $554 million each in their Canadian operations.

The deals struck with the two automakers will also see workers receive a two per cent wage increase this year, another two per cent raise in September 2019 and a $6,000 signing bonus plus lump sum bonuses.

A Ford spokeswoman said in an email that the automaker “will work collaboratively with Unifor to negotiate a globally competitive collective agreement.”