Following the failure of labor contract negotiations to yield a tentative deal, more than 8,200 members of the Canadian labor organization Unifor staged a walkout early on Monday, announcing that the union has begun strikes at all Stellantis (STLAM.MI) plants across the nation.
The union is requesting raises and better pensions. Its negotiating team has also given talks about helping its employees at Stellantis’ Brampton Assembly Plant adapt to electrified vehicles as a top priority.
In a statement, Unifor stated, “We have made progress, and we will continue to negotiate through the night.”
Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, expressed its “extreme disappointment” with the strike action and said it would keep negotiating until an agreement was reached.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is negotiating in the U.S.; Unifor is negotiating in Canada. On Saturday, the UAW and Stellantis agreed to a new labor deal.
Using a “pattern bargaining” strategy, Unifor has struck approved agreements with Ford (F.N.) and General Motors (GM.N.) in its negotiations with Canadian manufacturers.
The agreement with G.M. was struck just after 4,300 employees at three G.M. factories in Canada went on strike, while the agreement with Ford was made before an imminent walkout.
Additionally, Unifor is working to find solutions for Stellantis-specific problems, such as alternatives for commuted value pensions and defenses against outsourcing at the parts distribution centers.
In its facilities in Canada, Stellantis assembles several of its well-known automobiles, such as the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, Dodge Charger, and Challenger.
Although the Detroit Three’s Canadian businesses are far smaller than their American counterparts, they maintain vital plants in Canada.
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