A tentative agreement has been reached between General Motors and Unifor, avoiding a strike and cementing the automaker's foootprint in Canada for years to come.
The deal, involving 4,000 GM workers in Ontario, includes wage increases and future product commitments.
Unifor president Jerry Dias says the agreement also means the company's Oshawa plant will become the only one in North America capable of building both cars and trucks. There had been fears the Oshawa facility might shut down in 2019, but Dias says the contract ensures a commitment by the company worth ``hundreds of millions of dollars.'' Dias also says the agreement will see unspecified production coming from Mexico to St. Catharines and secures investment for the G-M parts distribution centre in Woodstock.
G-M Canada said it will be "working with government on potential support," but did not offer any specifics. Unifor chose G-M as its target company in the opening round of talks that will also include Ford and Fiat Chrysler.
Ratification votes are set for Sunday. The union did not say which automaker it will negotiate with next.
Story by AM800 News reporter Rusty Thomson.