Contract talks that are being billed by Unifor as "what could be the most important round of auto talks in a generation" are underway.
Negotiations between Unifor Local 88 and General Motors began Thursday morning, as the two sides work toward a new collective agreement for workers at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll.
"Our success in these negotiations will determine the livelihoods of nearly 3,000 workers and the future of our GM CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll," said Unifor Local 88 President Dan Borthwick.
The talks come less than seven months after General Motors announced it was moving production of the GMC Terrain from CAMI to Mexico, resulting in layoff notices being given to nearly 600 workers. Employees at CAMI have been working six days a week to meet production targets for the Chevrolet Equinox.
Mike Van Boekel, Unifor Local 88 GM Unit chairperson, says those targets have consistently been met and the company has profited handsomely from the workers' efforts.
"GM have done very well in the four years since the last round of negotiations, with both shareholders and executives profiting," he says in a statement released by the union on Thursday. "At the GM CAMI Assembly, they have made over $2.0 billion per year. It is now time for the workers to be rewarded with improved wages, benefits and a new investment at our facility."
The CAMI workers' current contract expires at 10:59pm on September 17.