Unifor Lands GM Truck Program in Auto Parts Sector

TORONTO, May 9, 2017 /CNW/ - Unifor members at Lear Corporation in Whitby ratified a new collective agreement on May 7 that saves jobs and secures the assembly of the GM Oshawa K2XX Truck seats starting January 2018.

"This agreement includes new work being brought into a plant that faced almost certain closure just a few short weeks ago," said Unifor Local 222 Plant Chairperson Scott Bateman.  "It was reached with the concentrated efforts of a strongly united bargaining committee, and immense support from the National Union as well as our Local President."

During an emotionally charged round of bargaining with Lear Corporation, Unifor negotiated a collective agreement that secured production of seats for the Sierra and Silverado trucks and good jobs. The deal reached was welcomed news for the 354 members of Unifor Local 222 and the union that, in February 2017, had received a written notice of closure from Lear.

"The new contract addresses needs for the workers, the company and the community. This demonstrates the power of the union to secure a future for good jobs in Canada," said President of Local 222 Colin James.

 The new two-year agreement, which will expire July 1, 2019, contains the following provisions:

1. For eligible members, a $50,000 retirement incentive and a two-year grow in to a unreduced pension that includes health care benefits;
   
   
2. Seat assembly for the new truck program in Oshawa the GM K2XX;
   
   
3. In return for agreed cost reduction measures Lear also committed the T1XX (K2XX replacement)‎, in the event this truck program is allocated to GM Oshawa; and
   
   
4. Newly negotiated language in the event of a closure to ensure Unifor members receive 3.5 weeks per each year of service up to a max of 25 years.

"I am thrilled to say we have been able to look after our senior members, our junior members and we have work for the future. Most importantly, through collective bargaining, and the solidarity of our members, we were able to get Lear to reverse its decision to close our plant," said Bateman.

Unifor Local 222 represents 21,000 workers at workplaces from Pickering to Lindsay to Newcastle and the largest workplace is in Oshawa. In addition to securing jobs at Lear, in September of 2016 Local 222 at the GM Oshawa plant reached an agreement that secured $400 million of investment in its facilities as part of the four-year collective bargaining agreement with the automaker.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, with 310,000 members. It was founded Labour Day weekend in 2013.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Director Denise Hammond at [email protected] or (cell) 416-707-5794.