The Detroit Big 3 automakers and Unifor open talks today. Here's what we know so far
CBC
It's bargaining time for workers at the Detroit Big Three automakers.
General Motors, Stellantis and Ford will begin negotiations with Unifor, the union representing thousands of autoworkers, in Toronto today.
It's a bargaining process that will define the wages and pensions for workers in their next contract.
As the talks kick off, here's what we know so far.
The are more than 19,600 Unifor members unionized at the Detroit Three across Canada. The largest share of those members work for Stellantis, both at the Windsor Assembly plant, which has 4,500 members and at the Brampton Assembly plant with 3,200 members, according to Unifor figures.
Unifor's Auto Council, comprised of union leadership from different companies and workplaces, will spearhead negotiations from the union's side.
Ford will open bargaining first, followed by Stellantis, and General Motors in the afternoon.
The first company will be what's traditionally known as a "target," and will be the first to get a completed deal.
The target company has traditionally be announced around Labour Day.
"Once [it's] Labour Day, usually [the union] sends the other two companies home until the the first company gets a deal," said Dave Cassidy, the president of Unifor Local 444.
The companies engage in what's known as pattern bargaining: essentially, with a few small exceptions, the deal that one company reaches will be replicated by the other two.
"Once we get the pattern set by that by that company then the others need to fall in line," Cassidy said.
Unifor has set its priorities to be wages, pensions and job security — especially as the industry transitions to electric vehicles.
The priorities were also based on the union's auto strategy, which was published this spring.
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