<article><p class="lead">Automaker Ford is facing a strike at its Canadian operations as the deadline for a new labor contract approaches and as the industry grapples with an active United Autoworkers (UAW) strike in the US.</p><p>The Unifor autoworkers union is negotiating new contracts with Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis, known as the Big 3 automakers, for the union's 18,000 represented workers. </p><p>The union has set Ford as their strike target, which means that if the two parties do not reach a tentative agreement by the time the contract expires tonight at midnight, the union could strike the company's Canadian operations. </p><p>Contracts at GM and Stellantis have been extended.</p><p>Ford has two plants in Windsor, Ontario, that build engines for versions of the F-150 pickup truck, the Mustang sports car and some of Ford's commercial-focused chassis cab trucks. </p><p>Versions of those vehicles are produced at Ford plants in Dearborn and Flat Rock, Michigan; Kansas City, Missouri; and an assembly plant near Cleveland, Ohio.</p><p>Ford also has the Oakville assembly plant in Ontario that builds the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus SUVs. </p><p>In late-August, Unifor workers at the three automakers voted to authorize strike action by at least 98pc at each, with workers at Ford voting 98.9pc in favor. </p><p>The potential strike in Canada comes as <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2489875">Ford, GM and Stellantis are weathering one in the US</a>. </p><p>Ford has laid off 600 workers at its Wayne, Michigan, plant because of the strike at that facility, while GM has said it may idle its Fairfax, Kansas, plant as a strike at its Wentzville, Missouri, plant has cut off some parts supply. </p><p class="bylines">By Rye Druzin</p></article>
