Canadian Union Unifor Presses Ford for Higher Wages, Job Security Amid Trade Uncertainty

Canada’s largest private-sector union, Unifor, has launched contract talks with Ford Motor Co. demanding higher wages, improved retirement benefits and stronger job security before a July 10 deadline. The negotiations cover 5,150 Ford workers across Canada and come as North American auto trade faces pressure from new tariffs and uncertainty over the USMCA trade pact. Unifor’s goal is to secure a deal with Ford that can set a pattern for upcoming negotiations with General Motors and Stellantis later this year. The talks are unfolding against a backdrop of rising trade tensions: U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs in April 2025, disrupting Canadian auto exports—most of which go to the U.S. In response, GM and Stellantis reduced Canadian production, while Ford’s Oakville, Ontario assembly plant was temporarily idled for retooling when the tariffs took effect. Ford plans to build Super Duty trucks at the Oakville facility, which received C$464.5 million ($328 million) in Canadian government funding to support the transition from EV production to heavy-duty pickups. Unifor National President Lana Payne emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement, warning that waiting for USMCA negotiations to conclude could pose risks to workers. The current USMCA, which governs North American auto manufacturing, is set to expire in 2036 unless renewed; Trump stated on June 10, 2026, that he would not sign off on its renewal without further negotiations. Unifor’s chairman for Ford bargaining, John D’Agnolo, stressed that external pressures—tariffs, political changes or economic conditions—will not lower the union’s standards for a fair contract. Ford responded in a statement expressing optimism about reaching a constructive, good-faith agreement that supports workforce stability and the long-term competitiveness of its Canadian operations.