Ford and Canadian union in talks over jobs and pay

Unifor, the Canadian autoworkers' union, has recently begun contract negotiations with Ford Motor Company, demanding higher wages, improved retirement benefits, and stronger job security. The talks come at a time of significant uncertainty surrounding North American trade prospects.

Unifor represents 5,150 Ford employees in Canada, and both sides have set 10 July as the deadline for reaching an agreement. These negotiations are the first in a series of union talks with the Big Three American automakers.

John D’Agnolo, the union's lead negotiator, told reporters at a press conference in Toronto on 22 June: "Tariffs, Trump policies, and various external disruptions from the macroeconomy will not lower our standards for this labour agreement."

A statement from Ford said: "We look forward to constructive, good-faith discussions to reach a fair deal that supports a stable workforce while strengthening the long-term competitiveness of our Canadian manufacturing operations."

Canada's automotive industry has been severely impacted since the Trump administration introduced tariffs in April 2025. The vast majority of Canadian-made cars and pickup trucks are exported to the US market, and both General Motors and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, have reduced their production capacity in Canada in response to the tariffs.

At the time the US tariffs were announced, Ford's only vehicle assembly plant in Canada was shut down for retooling. The Canadian government had previously provided Ford with C$464.5 million (US$328 million) to retool its Oakville assembly plant, located near Toronto, Ontario. The plant ceased regular car production in 2024. Ford had originally planned to build electric vehicles there but later revised its electrification strategy, converting the plant to produce heavy-duty pickup trucks instead.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) sets the trade rules for automotive manufacturing in North America, and the three countries are due to conduct an official review of the agreement this year. However, on 10 June, Trump stated that he would not approve the renewal of the USMCA, meaning the parties would need to renegotiate the terms over months or even years. If it is not renewed, the agreement will expire in 2036.

Lana Payne, National President of Unifor, said it would be too risky to wait for the USMCA situation to be resolved before negotiating with Ford and other automakers. Payne expressed optimism about the progress of talks with Ford at this stage. The union hopes to finalise an agreement with Ford that will serve as a template for subsequent negotiations with General Motors and Stellantis later this year.