Share
LONDON, May 26 – Unifor local leaders from across the auto parts sector gathered today for their first-ever joint bargaining strategy conference, establishing a common set of goals for future contract talks.
“We have our first opportunity in a long time to really build this industry,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias told Unifor’s largest-ever gathering of more than 140 auto parts union leaders and staff.
Unifor represents about 17,000 workers in the auto parts sector at 120 bargaining units with 79 different employers. Bargaining as a united sector with a common set of priorities will strengthen union’s position at the bargaining table and enable it to improve conditions in the industry, Dias said.
After more than two years of meetings and discussions across Ontario, Unifor’s Independent Parts Sector (IPS) voted to adopt the new bargaining agenda for the sector, setting out a joint strategy and priorities for the bargaining table on issues ranging from the length of agreements, rejection of two tier wages, temporary work, pensions, and better opportunities for hiring of laid off members, among others.
“This sector provides good jobs in dozens of communities. By taking a united approach to bargaining, we can build on that,” said IPS President Robin Dudley.
Since its founding, Unifor has worked hard to build solidarity and to improve and secure jobs in Canada’s auto sector. This week’s bargaining conference was a big step in that direction, Dudley said, adding IPS local leaders will continue to meet, share information and support one another in bargaining.
Dias said last year’s Detroit Three contract talks, which secured $1.5 billion in investments for Canada, will be good for the parts industry, as parts will be needed to feed the assembly plants.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.
-30-
For more information, please contact Unifor Communications National Representative Stuart Laidlaw at stuart.laidlaw@unifor.org or (cell) 647-385-4054.
