General Motors has agreed to wage increases, productivity and quality bonuses for laid off employees, and a letter promising not to sell or close its idled CAMI Assembly plant as part of its tentative agreements it reached with the Canadian union Unifor.
Unifor, which represents the autoworkers who build GM vehicles and parts, posted the details of the tentative plans on Aug. 29 to their website. Members were to vote to ratify the two contracts with the Detroit automaker over the weekend.
According to Unifor, CAMI, the assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, “will be the first consideration” for Canadian Armed Forces defense work if the government of Canada awards a contract to GM.
One contract covers 1,029 workers at CAMI Assembly represented by
the Unifor Local 88. Another contract covers 2,790 workers at Oshawa Assembly plant, represented by Local 222, another 687 workers at St. Catharines Propulsion, represented by Local 199, and a final 108 workers at a GM parts distribution center in Woodstock, represented by Local 636.
In total, GM Canada employs 4,614 hourly workers.
The union reached the tentative agreement with GM on Aug. 22.
According to the union, if the deal is ratified, these benefits will be secured:
- Unifor members at GM will receive wage increases in each year of the agreement. Eligible members will receive a $10,000 productivity bonus on top of a new December bonus.
- Cost of living protections will be renewed and expanded.
- The wage progression for new hires improves, as are the Defined Benefit and other pension plans.
- Health benefits plan improvements, including the special Universal Healthcare Allowance for retirees.
New investment, new products for Canada
Additionally, Unifor’s Master Bargaining Committee said that it “negotiated an innovative program to help reduce the number of layoffs” in Oshawa following GM’s decision to cut the third shift at the plant where it makes large trucks.
Unifor also said it negotiated new investments in Canada from GM.
“The company has committed to investing in a next generation transmission at St. Catharines that will create approximately 250 jobs, alongside existing plans for the next generation V8 engine,” Unifor said. “In Oshawa, the company will make the necessary investments to equip the plant to build next-generation GMC-badged heavy duty trucks. Yes, the Sierra truck is finally returning to Oshawa.”
No product yet for CAMI
Mark Gee, CAMI’s plant chairperson, said in a statement that GM was unwilling to make a product commitment from the beginning of the contract talks due to uncertainty around tariffs and trade.
Remaining workers at the laid off CAMI Assembly plant have been without work since GM decided to cut production of the BrightDrop electric commercial van made at the Ingersoll facility.
Still, the union negotiated for an income security extension. Qualifying members who exhaust their income protection will now be covered up until May 1, 2028, Gee said.
“This has been, and continues to be, a difficult time for our membership but your committee remains active and committed to turning every stone possible to get our membership back to work. Your continued solidarity means everything as we continue to fight for our plant, our members and our community,” Gee said. “The National and Local Union made it clear to GM that we expect future products for the Ingersoll facility, and we presented focused measures to assist our members until production resumes. GM has committed that it will continue to seek opportunities for the CAMI facility.”
Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Unifor outlines details of tentative agreements with GM ahead of vote
