Steel Products
Unifor, Ford Extend Negotiations for 24 Hours, Put Off Possible Strike
Written by Ethan Bernard
September 19, 2023
Unifor, which represents union auto workers in Canada, has extended negotiations with Ford, thus delaying a potential strike.
The deadline for contract talks – Monday, Sept. 18, at 11:59 pm — has passed. But Unifor said it was continuing discussions with Ford for another day.
“The union received a substantive offer from the employer minutes before the deadline and bargaining is continuing throughout the night,” Unifor said in a statement.
However, the union also noted that its members would remain ready to strike.
Separately, Ford issued a press release on Tuesday regarding the deadline extension.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with Unifor to create a blueprint for the automotive industry that supports a vibrant and sustainable future in Canada,” Steven Majer, VP of human resources of Ford Motor Co, of Canada, said in the statement.
Unifor’s counterpart in the US, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, is currently on strike against all “Detroit Three” automakers — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
Unifor took a more traditional approached. It selected one automaker, Ford, as the targeted automaker in labor negotiations.
The Canadian union’s membership is smaller than that of the UAW. So is the number of workers that it could call on to go on strike.
Unifor represents approximately 5,680 auto workers at Ford in Canada. The UAW represents roughly 150,000 across the Big Three, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Ethan Bernard
Read more from Ethan BernardLatest in Steel Products
Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.
U.S. Steel to halt slab conversion at Granite City Works
U.S. Steel said it plans to reduce slab consumption at its Granite City Works near St. Louis, a company spokesperson said on Monday. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker will shift the production and processing of steel slabs to its Mon Valley Works near Pittsburgh and its Gary Works near Chicago. Citing a United Steelworkers (USW) union memo, […]
SMU Week in Review: September 1-5
Here are highlights of what’s happened this past week and a few upcoming things to keep an eye on.
HR Futures: Market finds footing on supply-side mechanics
As Labor Day marks the transition into fall, the steel market enters September with a similar sense of change. Supply-side fundamentals are beginning to show signs of restraint: imports are limited, outages loom, and production is capped, setting the stage for a market that feels steady on the surface but still unsettled underneath.
Beige Book: US markets remain cautious amidst volatile pricing environment
Sluggish economic activity across the US was largely attributed to uncertainty caused by tariff policies and growing cost pressures, according to the US Federal Reserve’s (The Fed) latest Beige Book report. The Fed’s latest economic report, posted on Sept. 3, consists of economic findings from the six weeks preceding Aug. 25 throughout 12 districts. Economic […]