Unifor and Ford will begin contract negotiations on June 22 targeting wage and pension gains, job security and a pattern agreement template to be ratified by July 10. Ford is also exploring U.S. Defense Department work to manufacture weapon components alongside GM’s talks with Lockheed Martin, adding diversification.
Unifor and Ford will convene on June 22 to negotiate a new contract covering 18,900 Canadian auto workers, aiming to secure fair wage increases, pension enhancements and job security provisions by a July 10 target. The union cites rising Chinese EV imports under Canada’s new 49,000-unit tariff quota and previous U.S. tariffs as threats to domestic investment and jobs. A tentative deal will set the template for GM and Stellantis talks.
Following GM’s discussions with Lockheed Martin, Ford is exploring partnerships with the U.S. Defense Department to produce weapon components through its GM Defense unit or its own facilities. This move could diversify revenue streams beyond light vehicles and leverage existing manufacturing capacity for domestic security needs.
