Workers at the GM CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada voted to approve a new contract with General Motors on the morning of Monday, October 16th and workers went back to work that same night.
The four year-long deal, officially known as the collective bargaining agreement, was initially reached on October 13th between GM and Unifor. The plant’s workers, which belong to the Canadian Unifor union, were then required to ratify it by voting this morning, which they have now done. The agreement’s ratification completely ends a four week-long strike at the facility.
GM issued the following statement regarding the agreement’s ratification:
We are pleased that Unifor members have today ratified a new collective agreement, covering hourly employees at our CAMI Assembly manufacturing plant. This new agreement builds upon CAMI’s history of innovation, quality and productivity.
The CAMI plant produces the new, third-generation Chevrolet Equinox compact crossover starting, which went into production with the 2018 model year. The crossover is also assembled at two GM Mexico facilities – GM San Luis Potosi and GM Ramos Arizpe.
Stay tuned to GM Authority for more details about the agreement between GM and Unifor at the CAMI plant, as well as more GM CAMI news and GM news.
Update: see the details of the new contract between GM and Unifor for CAMI.
Comments
For all that don’t know, this new agreement entails GM making concessions. GM did not give in to make the CAMI facility the main factory in North America but pay raises and bonuses will go into effect throughout the 4 years of this contract (going from $36 Canadian to $38 Canadian). The pay raises aren’t even the main thing, Unifor made sure to make it costlier for GM to close the factory if it so chose to. Before the strike, it would’ve costed GM $190 million to close it but now it will cost GM $290 million. The last factor in the new agreement is for “close to” early retirement workers will still be given a full pension even if GM closes the factory unexpectedly.
My source for all this information is AutoNews. I am disgusted by all this because even if Unifor didn’t get it’s main objective into the new contract, GM gave in a lot of liberties to this middleman. GM, give your employees an ultimatum at the end of the 4 years of this contract. Tell them to ditch Union representation if they wish to continue to be employed. If they don’t agree, fire them all and close the factory.
Eva 0 we don’t earn $36 now nor will we earn $38 at any time during the life of this 4 year contract. However, of you have an in with Mary Barra, please let her know we will gladly take the extra dollars.
However the agreement that both GM and the 2,800 members of Unifor Local 88 Ratified Monday Oct. 16th was reached late Friday night October 13th. Not September 13 as the article states. Wouldn’t want anyone to think it takes over a month to vote on a contract.
Monday was the first day that a hall big enough to hold over 2,800 was available. We all went back to work as early as 7pm or 11pm on Monday Oct. 16 to efficiently and quickly churn out as many Equinoxes as our assembly lines will permit with the utmost quality our goal on each and every vehicle. We will now start our 9th consecutive year of mandatory 6 days per week working to provide an amazing vehicle for GM’s customers. Have a good day.
Sir, I will keep my response civil because I appreciate your courteous reply. I have been verbally attacked for my views before and having a thumbs-down for my post isn’t anything new to me.
Nothing in this world is mandatory, you have free choice. On a lesser scale, you have the choice of continuing to be employed by GM Canada as well. If you don’t like how your current boss is treating you or have reservations about pay/benefits, you can do something about it. Quit and find work for another employer who will offer better terms to you. Heck, become your own boss even and see how self employment life is. All I’m saying here is that if you know your worth, get out there and get what you’re worth. You do not have a right to employment.
Eva 0. Where on Earth did you get the idea I wasn’t happy with my job or my compensation or my collective agreement which includes mandatory 8 hours overtime when scheduled which is almost every Saturday except long weekends? You’re totally wrong, I absolutely love my job. You ASSume too much. I’ll let you decide what that makes you.
I merely wanted to correct you on some of your misinformation. I didn’t waste my time before about you being so wrong about GM bargaining with a “middleman”. GM wouldn’t waste their time on that. They only bargain with the duly elected members chosen through a democratic process by all the hourly members working here as dictated by our Labour Laws. Which also state that your ill advised threat for GM to make to those employees to “ditch” their bargaining unit would also be against our Labour Laws. Our contract and Labour laws wouldn’t allow GM to simply fire all employees for not choosing to “Decertify” our union affiliation as you also suggest. In fact, we’re quit fond of our union and will continue to support our Master Bargaining Committee as our Labour Laws allow. For all the suggesting you’re doing, maybe you should spend a little less time on your computer telling GM or its employees how to run their business and their lives. Might I suggest you invest in some courses on Labour Laws before you take on the challenging career of becoming an automotive consultant. As far as GM and our joint future goes, we both feel very confident that we will have a long successful career together. You may choose to differ but I’ll tell you upfront, that we have no interest in your opinion. So save your time. Have a good day.
You know my opinion on the matter and if you and the other workers don’t agree with my philosophy, so be it.
Congtrats to the CAMI workers and Unifor Local 88!
Workers solidarity pays. An injury to one is an injury to all.