TORonTO — The Canadian Auto Workers unio hammered out a tentative agreement with General Motors on Thursday that will keep some 1,750 jobs in Ontario, making Chrysler the final of the Detroit Big Three still at the bargaining table.
At the end of the day what came out of this thing is consistent with what we did at Ford, said a tired-looking CAW president Ken Lewenza, whose unio has been in round-the-clock negotiations since Monday when a midnight strike deadline was put off after the unio reached a deal with Ford.
After reaching a tentative deal with Ford on Monday, the CAW turned to getting similar deals at both Chrysler and General Motors – a practice known as pattern bargaining.
Lewenza said the GM deal incorporates the entire Ford pattern – including a 10-year progression to full pay and a hybrid pension plan for new employees, as well as a $2,000 annual cost of living lump sum payment and a $3,000 ratification bonus for all employees.
The GM deal will also see 1,750 jobs created, maintained or extended.
That includes 900 jobs through the addition of a third shift at the flex plant in Oshawa, Ont., beginning early next year, and the extension of the life of the consolidated plant in Oshawa, which had been slated to close in 2013. Instead, the company will continue to operate at least one shift until June of 2014, extending at least 750 jobs and potentially more if a second shift is also extended.
In addition, about 100 new positions will be created or maintained at its plant in St. Catharines, Ont.
The company also committed to $675-million in investments over the term of the agreement.
The agreement also reverses concessions made in the last round of bargaining that allowed to use temporary workers indefinitely, and limits the use of those workers during the launch of a new vehicle.
What I get out of this set of negotiations is for the first time in over 20 years at the end of this collective agreement we will have no seniority workers on layoff at General Motors, Lewenza said. And if the market conditions improve as General Motors rebuilds their company, well have the opportunity to give young people jobs at General Motors for the first time in two darn decades if not more.
The key sticking point in negotiations was over a two-tier wage system – GM wanted to see new hires permanently earn less than current employees, Lewenza said.
He urged Chrysler to get serious and table a proposal that follows the pattern, adding that it seemed reluctant to do so, appearing to make a strategic decision to allow the unio to focus on GM, but talks continue with the automaker.
Earlier Thursday, the unio indicated it was making some headway with Chrysler, saying the company seems to be more willing than it was to reach an agreement.
Still, the unio is in legal position to strike if at any point progress seriously stalls in the talks. It has said it will give 24 hours notice before a work stoppage.
Canadian Ford autoworkers will vote this weekend on the tentative agreement and the CAW said results of the vote will be released on Sunday night. The vote for GM workers has yet to be scheduled.
GM Canada said the four-year tentative deal covering about 5,500 CAW members was arrived at around 9 p.m. ET, adding that it would not disclose terms of the agreement because it was still subject to ratification.
This set of talks with our labour partner have been candid and constructive, reflecting the challenges facing Canadian manufacturers, it added.
© 2012 The Canadian Press
