Unifor and Ford Ratify Three-Year Canadian Labor Deal

Union members of Unifor overwhelmingly ratified a three-year collective agreement with Ford Motor Company of Canada on July 20, 2026. The deal, which becomes effective September 21, 2026, provides 5,150 hourly workers with a 9% general wage increase over three years, averaging 3% annually, alongside renewed cost-of-living allowances and improved health benefits for psychological and orthodontic services.

Ford committed C$1.25 billion to Canadian manufacturing operations to ensure competitiveness. This includes C$700 million for the Essex Engine Plant to maximize production of 5.0-litre and 7.3-litre engines and C$550 million for the Oakville Assembly Complex. The agreement includes a moratorium on the sale or closure of Unifor-represented facilities and a specific pathway to return laid-off workers at the Oakville plant to full employment by July 1, 2027.

Financial incentives include a C$10,000 productivity and quality bonus for eligible members and a C$2,000 December bonus. Unifor National President Lana Payne stated the contract sends a message that the union and industry refuse to be counted out. Ford CEO Jim Farley linked the investment to the necessity of a strong North American manufacturing system and a revised USMCA to compete with vehicle imports from Japan and Korea.