Workers at four Windsor-Essex auto part suppliers participate in contract ratification votes, March 8, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Unifor Local 444 via Facebook)Workers at four Windsor-Essex auto part suppliers participate in contract ratification votes, March 8, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Unifor Local 444 via Facebook)
Windsor

Workers At Auto Parts Supplier Reject Offer, Head To Picket Line

Workers at an auto parts supplier that provides inventory to the Windsor Assembly Plant are headed on strike after rejecting their latest contract.

Parts supplier ZF-TRW in Windsor is now without its workforce after unionized employees at the plant voted against a tentative agreement that was reached over the weekend.  The company makes transmission systems, units and components, as well as chassis systems and other automotive parts.

The worker's union, Unifor Local 444, was also able to reach tentative agreements with three other auto parts manufacturers -- Avancez Assembly, HBPO Canada and Dakkota Integrated Systems -- Sunday night and early Monday morning. Workers at Dakkot and HBPO were on strike over the weekend when their contracts expired midnight Saturday, but returned to work on Monday after a deal was reached.

Ratification votes were held all day for all four part suppliers on Thursday, with workers at Avancez and Dakkota voting 78% in favour of their new collective agreements.  Employees at HBPO Canada narrowly voted 56% in favour of their contract as well, but ZF-TRW voted to head on strike with 62% of workers rejecting the offer.

A strike at ZF-TRW is expected to negatively impact production at the Windsor Assembly Plant.

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