Unifor Local 444 members are preparing for strike action should a deal not be reached between Stellantis and the union by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.
On Friday, union officials said negotiations continue with the bargaining committee in Toronto, while picket signs were being constructed at the union hall in Windsor.
“We’re preparing for something we hopefully don’t have to use,” said strike coordinator Shawn Bezaire. “Hopefully, we can walk out with a good, fair contract.”
Picket duty schedules for more than 4,400 members were also being prepared in the event a deal cannot be reached.
“We’re willing to pull out, withdraw our labour if they can’t meet or get the demands we’re looking for,” Bezaire explained.
According to Bezaire, even though extensive retooling is taking place, Local 444 will picket outside the Windsor Assembly Plant should a deal not be reached after the Sunday night deadline.
Members will also be set up outside Stellantis’ Automotive Research and Development Centre on Rhodes Drive.
“We’ve been talking about bargaining since early August and here we are in November,” he said.
Bezaire noted members are trying to stay positive knowing there is a chance a strike could happen, saying the last time that took place was in the 1980’s.
“It’s a high anxiety time right now, uncertain times and it’s uncomfortable, but to all our members, stay positive and have faith in our bargaining team,” he said.
Bezaire said they hope the community has their backs, adding he is optimistic the pattern set by Ford and General Motors will be followed and a deal will be achieved.
“The future in Windsor is going to be excellent with the battery plant coming in and with the retooling in our facility, and the footprint is growing in the city of Windsor, so it’s awesome, it’s good for the community,” said Bezaire.
CONTRACT HURDLES
When it comes to demands in contract talks, Unifor released a bargaining update on Wednesday outlining the items it was still seeking progress on from Stellantis:
Commuted value pension option.
DB pension increases to match GM settlement ($5.60 for benefit codes A-C and $6.60 for benefit code D).
110 language for vehicle assembly.
Protection of permanent employment levels at Fire / Security and Office, Clerical and Engineering units.
Protections against outsourcing at Parts Distribution Centres.
Extension of bargaining rights to the NextStar Battery Plant.
For Greg Layson, an editor with Automotive News Canada, the deadline day dance is an all-too-common scene.
“I think they’re at where Ford was at, where GM was at, coming down to the wire as they always do, nitpicking over local issues as they always do,” said Layson.
He pointed to Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy’s comments about his membership’s displeasure with the pattern deals set in auto talks this year as one of the wrinkles in negotiations between the union and Stellantis.
Layson believes the push to unionize the workforce at the future NextStar Battery Plant being built in Windsor looms large over the talk at the table.
“If [Cassidy] can convince Stellantis to convince LG to roll that into this contract and unionize that shop, it effectively gives every employee in Windsor the opportunity to bid on jobs at two different places and that might be enough to push the ratification vote beyond 50 per cent,” said Layson.
Talks often hinge on future product placement, but the Windsor Assembly Plant is already undergoing retooling, so that aspect of talks may already be settled.
“Something new is going in there and it’s probably not going to be cancelled,” said Layson.
As for the quickly approaching union-set deadline for a tentative deal, Layson believes while a strike isn’t out of the realm of possibility, it likely wouldn’t be incredibly effective labour action.
“I think it would be short-lived,” said Layson. “What are they striking? They’re going to strike Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant where they’re not making minivans anyways because it’s down for retooling.”
Unifor describes negotiations as being at a “crucial stage” as the union aims to position its labour force best for the expected future of electric vehicle manufacturing.
Although a strike may prove less fruitful than hoped.
“Stellantis could effectively leave them out on the picket line for a while because if they’re not making anything now they’re not making anything next week anyway,” said Layson.
Both three-year deals with Ford and GM have been ratified; the Ford deal with 54 per cent in favour and the GM agreement with 80.5 per cent support.
TORONTO – Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has signed a deal that will result in the creation of its first eyewear collection.
The deal announced on Thursday by the Toronto-based luxury apparel company comes in the form of an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement with Marchon Eyewear Inc.
The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed, but Marchon produces eyewear for brands including Lacoste, Nike, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Longchamp and Zeiss.
Marchon plans to roll out both sunglasses and optical wear under the Canada Goose name next spring, starting in North America.
Canada Goose says the eyewear will be sold through optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose shops and its website.
Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss told The Canadian Press in August that he envisioned his company eventually expanding into eyewear and luggage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Almost seven years since news broke of an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of packaged bread across Canada, the saga isn’t over: the Competition Bureau continues to investigate the companies that may have been involved, and two class-action lawsuits continue to work their way through the courts.
Here’s a timeline of key events in the bread price-fixing case.
Oct. 31, 2017: The Competition Bureau says it’s investigating allegations of bread price-fixing and that it was granted search warrants in the case. Several grocers confirm they are co-operating in the probe.
Dec. 19, 2017: Loblaw and George Weston say they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” to raise the price of packaged bread. The companies say they have been co-operating in the Competition Bureau’s investigation since March 2015, when they self-reported to the bureau upon discovering anti-competitive behaviour, and are receiving immunity from prosecution. They announce they are offering $25 gift cards to customers amid the ongoing investigation into alleged bread price-fixing.
Jan. 31, 2018: In court documents, the Competition Bureau says at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread between about 2001 and 2016.
Dec. 20, 2019: A class-action lawsuit in a Quebec court against multiple grocers and food companies is certified against a number of companies allegedly involved in bread price-fixing, including Loblaw, George Weston, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger (which have all denied involvement, except for Loblaw and George Weston, which later settled with the plaintiffs).
Dec. 31, 2021: A class-action lawsuit in an Ontario court covering all Canadian residents except those in Quebec who bought packaged bread from a company named in the suit is certified against roughly the same group of companies.
June 21, 2023: Bakery giant Canada Bread Co. is fined $50 million after pleading guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act as part of the Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation.
Oct. 25 2023: Canada Bread files a statement of defence in the Ontario class action denying participating in the alleged conspiracy and saying any anti-competitive behaviour it participated in was at the direction and to the benefit of its then-majority owner Maple Leaf Foods, which is not a defendant in the case (neither is its current owner Grupo Bimbo). Maple Leaf calls Canada Bread’s accusations “baseless.”
Dec. 20, 2023: Metro files new documents in the Ontario class action accusing Loblaw and its parent company George Weston of conspiring to implicate it in the alleged scheme, denying involvement. Sobeys has made a similar claim. The two companies deny the allegations.
July 25, 2024: Loblaw and George Weston say they agreed to pay a combined $500 million to settle both the Ontario and Quebec class-action lawsuits. Loblaw’s share of the settlement includes a $96-million credit for the gift cards it gave out years earlier.
Sept. 12, 2024: Canada Bread files new documents in Ontario court as part of the class action, claiming Maple Leaf used it as a “shield” to avoid liability in the alleged scheme. Maple Leaf was a majority shareholder of Canada Bread until 2014, and the company claims it’s liable for any price-fixing activity. Maple Leaf refutes the claims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:MFI, TSX:MRU, TSX:EMP.A, TSX:WN)
TORONTO – TD Bank Group, which is mired in a money laundering scandal in the U.S., says chief executive Bharat Masrani will retire next year.
Masrani, who will retire officially on April 10, 2025, says the bank’s, “anti-money laundering challenges,” took place on his watch and he takes full responsibility.
The bank named Raymond Chun, TD’s group head, Canadian personal banking, as his successor.
As part of a transition plan, Chun will become chief operating officer on Nov. 1 before taking over the top job when Masrani steps down at the bank’s annual meeting next year.
TD also announced that Riaz Ahmed, group head, wholesale banking and president and CEO of TD Securities, will retire at the end of January 2025.
TD has taken billions in charges related to ongoing U.S. investigations into the failure of its anti-money laundering program.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
