TORONTO — Collective bargaining talks kicked off Monday morning between Ford Motor Co. and Canada’s largest private sector union, which says it is anticipating the “most consequential round of auto bargaining” in its history.
Gathered in a conference room at a downtown Toronto hotel, negotiations officially got underway following a ceremonial handshake between Unifor national president Lana Payne and Meredith Keenan, vice-president of human resources at Ford of Canada.
Unifor, which represents nearly 19,000 Canadian autoworkers across the sector, typically uses pattern bargaining for its auto sector negotiations. The union chose Ford as its target to open the collective bargaining process, just as it did during the last round in 2023.
Talks with Stellantis and General Motors are expected to come after a deal is reached with Ford.
Current deals signed by the Detroit Three automakers and Unifor three years ago are set to expire Sept. 20.
The latest round of bargaining comes amid difficult conditions for the sector as it copes with U.S. tariffs, uncertainty linked to the future of CUSMA, and the introduction of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada.
The union said it is keen to secure protections around job security with the auto manufacturing sector having lost nearly 6,500 total jobs since February 2025.
A 25 per cent tariff on all cars and trucks not built in the U.S., along with their parts, remains in place. CUSMA-compliant auto and truck parts are not currently subject to that levy.
Ford has said both stability and flexibility are key as it contends with an evolving landscape, citing rising costs, new competitors and shifting product demand that are reshaping its considerations around potential investments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2026.
Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
