The union representing autoworkers at Ford Motor Company have reached a tentative contract deal one day after the strike deadline passed.
Late Tuesday evening, Unifor announced its bargaining committee has come to a tentative agreement with Ford, averting a strike that would have seen upwards of 5,600 Canadian workers picketing until a deal was reached between the two sides.
The strike deadline between Unifor and Ford Canada was originally set for 11:59 p.m. Monday and it came and went with no deal. Unifor then extended the deadline for another 24-hours after the company made a substantive offer minutes before the midnight deadline.
At around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Unifor said the bargaining committee is recommending union members, including workers at the Windsor Engine Plant, to vote on this deal.
“The union will now prepare to present this unanimously endorsed tentative agreement in full detail to the membership at upcoming ratification meetings,” read a statement from Unifor.
Unifor said voting locations and times will be shared in the coming days. All Unifor members at Ford are advised to monitor their emails and check autotalks.ca for updates.
The tentative deal with Ford Canada comes as autoworkers in the United States continue to strike against Ford as well as at General Motors and Stellantis plants.
Contract talks with GM and Stellantis in Canada are on hold until the union ratifies its deal with Ford. That contract will then serve as a template for members at those plants. Unlike Unifor, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and the Big Three Detroit automakers are bargaining all at the same time.
