Canadian automakers, union stare down Monday strike deadline

Thousands of striking autoworkers have walked off the job in the U.S. – a picture that could also take shape in Canada early next week should Ford Motor Company and Unifor fail to reach a new employment contract.

Unifor, the union representing Canadian autoworkers, chose Ford to negotiate a pattern agreement given the automaker’s large presence in Canada and its pivotal role in the green energy transition, Lana Payne, national president of Unifor, told BNN Bloomberg in a television interview on Friday.

Autoworkers have voted unanimously in favour of a strike if an agreement is not reached by the deadline of Sept. 18 at 11:59 p.m. – putting them in position to be on strike next Tuesday in the absence of an agreement.

Payne said a new deal has not yet been reached with the employer, despite the union receiving two offers from Ford.