Union prepping for strikes at FCA plants in Canada

The Unifor union in Canada is preparing to strike at Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) plants across the country tomorrow as contract talks bump up against a midnight deadline.

The two sides have been negotiating for two weeks, with Unifor pushing for FCA to accept terms similar to those the union agreed to with US-automaker Ford at the end of September.

Unifor represents 315,000 workers in Canada, of whom 9,000 work at FCA plants in Canada, the largest of the "Big 3" US-based automakers, according to the union.

Ford employs 6,300 Unifor members, while General Motors (GM) employs 4,100.

FCA operates the Windsor Assembly Plant in the province of Ontario that produces minivans, while FCA's Brampton Assembly Plant, also in Ontario, produces the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans, and the Dodge Challenger sports car.

The Windsor facility ran three shifts from 1993 until the Covid-19 pandemic. Since resuming production after FCA and other auto manufacturers had to shutter production to protect their workforces from the pandemic, Windsor has been reduced to two shifts.

Of the FCA employees represented by Unifor, 200 of them are at the Etobicoke Casting Plant, which produces various cast parts for FCA's North American automobile production in Ontario.

FCA said it is committed to reaching an agreement with the union.

By Rye Druzin