The Canadian automobile union, Unifor, announced on Sunday evening the strike of its members in all factories operated by the European automobile giant Stellantis.
The union represents approximately 8,200 workers at Stellantis factories in Windsor and Brampton, in Canada’s industrial heartland, in southern Ontario.
The strikers are demanding an increase in wages and improvements in pensions.
“The strike will begin [dimanche] at 11:59 p.m. at all Stellantis facilities,” said a joint statement from senior union officials issued just before an ultimatum set by the union expired.
The union said its negotiators were preparing to continue negotiations with company representatives. “We have made progress and will continue to negotiate through the night,” the statement said.
LouAnn Gosselin, head of communications for Stellantis in Canada, told Canadian broadcaster CBC that the company was “extremely disappointed.”
“We will continue to negotiate in good faith until an agreement is reached. We hope everyone returns to work as soon as possible,” Ms. Gosselin said in a statement.
The union pressured Stellantis to follow the model established by Unifor in previous negotiations over new contracts at Ford and General Motors.
The agreement at GM came after a 14-hour strike. It provides for an increase in base hourly wages of nearly 20% for production and 25% for skilled trades over the life of the agreement. It also granted all full-time temporary workers permanent status.
The work stoppage in Canada has no impact on the United Auto Workers strikes in the United States, targeting Stellantis and other Detroit giants Ford and General Motors.