Canadian Auto Workers and GM announce tentative contract

The Canadian Auto Workers and GM announced a tentative contract Thursday night reports The Globe and Mail:

The deal extends by one year the life of a car-assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont., that was scheduled to close next year and adds a new shift of workers at a neighbouring plant. That means GM’s employment level in Canada should be roughly the same as it is today – or about 7,000 people – in 2016.

Having reached agreements with both Ford and GM, the CAW is now turning its attention to negotiations with Chrysler.

Chrysler has been the most rigid in the talks, sources said, in insisting that the CAW accept essentially the same terms approved last year by the United Auto Workers in the United States.

Talks with GM were more advanced than those with Chrysler in what is known as pattern bargaining, where an agreement with one company sets the standard on wages and other economic issues for the other two companies.

GM employment in Canada represents approximately 3.5% of GM's global workforce.

- Jordan Wyant, Michigan Radio Newsroom