GM unionized workers ratify new contracts with automaker

The union representing workers at General Motors has announced that its members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying new three-year collective agreements with the automaker. The tentative labour contracts, agreed upon on August 22, will impact more than 4,600 autoworkers in Ontario. Unifor, the union, and GM reached this agreement after Unifor already secured a similar deal with Ford earlier in the month.

The new contracts significantly increase wages for production members, raising their hourly pay to $50.20, and skilled trades workers to $62.71. Unifor members in Oshawa, St. Catharines, and Woodstock voted 80.5% and 96.5% respectively in favor of the agreements. Unifor National President Lana Payne highlighted that GM is committing over $1 billion in investments to Canadian facilities during a critical period for the domestic auto industry, which is facing challenges from the Trump Administration.

GM Canada President and Managing Director Jack Uppal praised the ratification, stating it supports employees, strengthens manufacturing operations, and lays a solid foundation for GM's future in Canada. The union emphasized that they will continue advocating for the resumption of production at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, which is currently idle and has majority of its workforce on indefinite layoff.

Additionally, the union will push for GM to prioritize the plant for defence work for the Canadian Armed Forces, if awarded to GM.

GM has announced specific investments in the three plants, with $144 million for the CAMI Assembly Plant, bringing next-generation GMC Sierra Heavy-Duty production to the facility. At St. Catharines Propulsion, a $215 million investment will establish the plant as the sole source for a next-generation transmission, complementing a previously announced $691 million for sixth-generation V8 engine production.

Uppal noted that the additional investments will bolster the plant's role in producing next-generation GMC Sierra Heavy-Duty vehicles.