Autoworkers at General Motors, Ford, and Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles have given Unifor a strong strike mandate should contract talks fail to produce a deal by next month's deadline.
The union has given the three automakers until midnight, September 21, to reach a contract settlement, or the workers will walk off the job.
Talks officially started on August 12 in Toronto, and preliminary meetings began last Monday. Those will continue until Labour Day.
At that point, Unifor National President Jerry Dias will announce the strike target company or companies.
The workers head their strike vote meetings over the weekend.
"Our members voted overwhelmingly to support their bargaining committees and our bargaining priorities, including job security, product commitments, and economic gains for all members," said Dias. "We will continue to push our agenda at the bargaining table, but remind government that they have an active role to play in security our auto industry's future."
The theme of this round of talks is all about a future made in Canada. The union wants to secure jobs, which was highlighted earlier this summer with the loss of the third shift at the Windsor Assembly Plant.
Unionized employees at Fiat-Chrysler gave the union the most decisive mandate to strike if necessary, with 98.4 per cent in favour. Ford workers voted 96.4 per cent if there is no deal, and those at General Motors voted 95.3 per cent to walk off the job.
The union must hold a strike vote before it can legally take strike action.
