Plans to outsource nearly 300 transport operations jobs at the Windsor Assembly plant have been put on hold.
Employees of the transportation unit gathered at the Caboto Club Sunday.
Unifor Local 444 President Dino Chiodo told AM800 News the letter of intent has been rescinded.
"We know it's a victory, we're excited about that," says the outgoing president.
He says the union will come back to the table with a cost cutting strategy in an attempt to keep the division viable.
The fact that both sides are willing to negotiate is a positive sign, according to Chiodo.
"It's another instance that shows collaboration work that's done between a union and a company to be able to come to a concise decision, making sure that we do what's in the best interest of our membership, at the same time the company and the community at large," he says.
Chiodo says they've bought some time, but a committee will meet as soon as Tuesday with the deadline set for Aug. 18.
"We've put some time between us in order to facilitate making sure that we can strike the committee, the committee starts as soon as Aug. 1," he says. "That committee in essence has the ability to go in and talk about cost savings measures to keep the department long term."
He says senior members from several areas will form the committee.
"A group of individual that will be able to sit and really talk to the issues, understand what's going on in the department because they live and breath it every day. " says Chiodo. "Some of them for 25-years, some of them over 30-years, and be able to really focus on what those cost initiatives need to be in order to make the department more viable than it is today."
Chiodo says the company can reissue the letter should an agreement not be reached.
VIDEO: FCA @LOCAL444UNIFOR says company has rescinded letter to outsource trucking unit, union to come up with cost savings measures. #cklw pic.twitter.com/aSBjNp6VZZ
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) July 30, 2017