BlackburnNews.com file photo.BlackburnNews.com file photo.
Windsor

Ford Workers Ratify New Contract

All three of Detroit's automakers have new contracts with their Canadian workers.

Ford Canada workers represented by Unifor have accepted a contract with the automaker, by roughly 58% among Ford workers nationally.

Unifor National President Jerry Dias said in a statement, "We solidified a footprint for the future of auto in Canada and none of this would have happened if our union was not willing to fight for principles and to do it together."

Steve Majer, vice president of human resources for Ford Canada, said in a statement of his own, "This competitive agreement with Unifor enables Ford of Canada to further strengthen its business and positions the Canadian operations for future success."

Windsor area employees, members of Unifor Local 200, voted on the tentative agreement Sunday afternoon at the Caboto Club in Windsor.

The new four-year deal guarantees over $700 million in improvements at Ford's Canadian facilities through 2020.  The agreement, which was reached at the strike deadline earlier this week, places $613 million of that money toward improvements at the Windsor and Essex plants.

The agreement also includes two wage increases of two percent each over the course of the deal, signing bonuses totaling $12,000 over the four-year deal, improvements in the wage grid providing more money for income earnings and higher pay to new members with under ten years' service, and benefit improvements including a reduction by half of the health deductible for retirees.

Over 1400 Ford employees work at the two Windsor-Essex plants, plus an annex at the Windsor facility.  In all, 6,400 employees across Ontario are affected by the agreement.

 

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