Canadian union Unifor has begun striking some of General Motors' (GM) operations in Canada.
The strike encompasses 4,280 workers at GM's Oshawa, Ontario, full-size truck plant and the associated CCA stamped products plant, the company's St Catharines, Ontario, powertrain plant, and its Woodstock, Ontario parts distribution center.
The strike at a full-size vehicle plant is the first of its kind this year against GM or any of the Big 3 in Canada or the US, which include Ford and Stellantis. So far the United Auto Workers (UAW) union in the US has targeted midsize pickup trucks and SUVs and 9,200 of its members are striking against two of GM's US assembly plants and its parts distribution centers. A third assembly plant is idled because of a lack of parts.
Unifor's action comes two weeks after it ratified a new contract with Ford, an agreement that the union said GM did not agree to follow.
"This strike is about GM stubbornly refusing to meet the pattern agreement. The company knows our members will never let GM break our pattern — not today — not ever," Unifor national president Lana Payne said in a statement.
GM Canada president and managing director Marissa West said "GM Canada presented Unifor with a record economic offer that recognizes the many contributions of our represented team members — past, present, and future, however there are some final outstanding items to be resolved at the bargaining table," in an emailed statement.
GM's CAMI electric van assembly is covered under a separate agreement, Unifor said, and will continue operating. That plant has continued to deal with supply chain issues and has undergone production disruptions recently, according to the local union's website.
GM avoided an expanded UAW strike in the US at its Arlington, Texas full-size SUV plant on Friday after the union was able to secure guarantees that GM's future battery plants would fall under the UAW's master agreement. Ford and Stellantis are also being struck at assembly plants, with Stellantis' parts distribution centers also being struck.
