Over 3,400 Ford workers in Oakville set to go out on strike tonight

Workers at the Ford Motor Co. Oakville Assembly Complex in Oakville and two other Ford engine plants in Windsor are set to go out on strike Monday night (Sept. 18).

Over 3,400 Unifor members in Oakville and another 1,700 combined at both Windsor plants are set to follow Ford workers in the U.S. who walked out last Thursday.

In an interview this past weekend with CNN, Unifor president Lana Payne said the union turned down two offers by Ford and that the two sides were far apart.

“We’re not close at all,” said Payne. “There’s a lot of work to get done to get an agreement by midnight on Monday.”

While the United Auto Workers (UWA) have listed their contract demands, including a 40 per cent pay raise, Unifor nor Ford have made public the wage demands being sought here for workers in Canada.

Unifor did note previously it is looking for a substantial pay increase to help workers keep up with the cost of living, as well as job security and pension improvements as Ford prepares to make the change to elective vehicles.

Unifor’s contracts with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, which makes Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles, are set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

The union has chosen to “target” Ford first in hopes of working out a deal and then set to work out a similar deal with the other two big automakers using the Ford contract.

The Assembly Complex in Oakville produces the Ford Edge as well as the Lincoln Nautilus SUV. The two Windsor plants make engines for the F-150 pick-up truck and Mustangs.