Unifor members to build Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks at Oakville plant

OAKVILLE, ON, July 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Unifor welcomes today's announcement that Ford Motor Company will begin production of F-Series Super Duty trucks at the Oakville Assembly Complex in summer 2026 as well as both conventional and electrified versions of the Super Duty later this decade.

"This new retooling plan for the Oakville plant addresses our union's concerns with Ford Motor Company's decision to delay new vehicle production for a period that was too long, too disruptive, and too harmful to accept," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "Working with our local unions and company executives, we came to an agreement that will not only see our members back to work sooner, it protects our members' jobs well into the future."

Under the new plan, Ford Motor Company will begin installation of tooling and equipment for Super Duty production and an integrated stamping facility at the Oakville Assembly Complex this summer. Production of the current generation Super Duty is forecasted to begin in 2026. Later in the decade, Oakville will begin producing the next-generation Super Duty, including an electrified version of the pickup. Oakville will be the sole initial source of multi-energy Super Duty production.

Production at the Oakville plant ceased with the final Ford Edge rolling off the assembly line in May 2024. Super Duty truck production will replace previous production plans to build Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) in Oakville. In April 2024 the Company announced its decision to delay the launch of BEV production from 2025 to 2027. The delay would have resulted in Unifor Local 707 members being laid off for more than three years.

Since the delay was announced in April 2024, Unifor has been engaged in negotiations with the company to push for additional support mechanisms for workers and an accelerated resumption of production at Oakville.

"Finding a solution to support our members was multi-layered and extensive," said Local 707 Oakville Plant Chairperson Marc Brennan. "This shift in direction reaffirms Ford Motor Company's commitment to our members."

In addition to the accelerated timeline for the launch of Oakville's next product, the union also succeeded in extending and enhancing the income security transition provisions originally negotiated during 2023 bargaining.

Ford's new product commitments will result in an additional investment of $500 million on top of the $1.8 billion Ford Motor Company committed in 2020. As a result of the production volumes of Super Duty trucks in Oakville, Ford anticipates increasing engine production volumes at the Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario which employs Unifor Local 200 members.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor

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