Unifor members have ratified a new General Motors agreement that includes a $144-million investment in GM Oshawa Sierra production and additional in-house work at the assembly plant.
The agreement covers more than 4,600 unionized employees at GM facilities in Oshawa, Ingersoll, St. Catharines and Woodstock. About 2,700 Unifor Local 222 members work at Oshawa Assembly.
Next-generation Sierra HD assigned to Oshawa
Unifor says the deal will return next-generation heavy-duty GMC Sierra production to Oshawa. The investment is intended to diversify the plant’s pickup-truck work and provide a new product commitment during an uncertain period for the Canadian auto sector.
The settlement also includes new stamping-die allocations and an opportunity for Oshawa workers to build heavy-duty roofs, sunroofs, roof reinforcements and back panels in-house.
Unifor also reported a commitment involving the next generation of heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.
Wages, pensions and layoff measures included
Beyond product allocation, the contract provides annual wage increases, restores cost-of-living adjustments, improves pensions and extends quarterly retiree payments to surviving spouses, according to the union.
The agreement also includes measures intended to reduce the effect of current layoffs, along with changes involving overtime, skilled trades, job postings and workplace safety.
Members ratified agreement
Unifor announced that members voted overwhelmingly to approve the contracts. The ratification converts the earlier tentative agreement into a binding settlement, making it a substantial development for the Oshawa plant rather than another report about negotiations.
Across Canadian GM facilities, Unifor says the agreements secure more than $1 billion in investment. The Oshawa portion is especially significant because of the plant’s large local workforce and the community’s long connection to vehicle assembly.
Sources: Unifor; Durham Post
