Canadian Union Chooses GM as Strike Target

Unifor, the union that represents hourly auto workers in Canada, has selected General Motors Co. as its strike target. The union’s four-year labor agreement expires in two weeks.

Unifor represents about 23,000 auto workers employed by General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The union wants wage hikes but is focused primarily on winning commitments from the carmakers to invest in their Canadian facilities.

The union has said it will strike if the companies fail to pledge new support for three factories considered likely to close: GM’s assembly plant in Oshawa, Ford’s engine plants in Windsor and FCA’s assembly plant at Brampton. Canada’s auto industry has been shrinking for years as production shifts to Mexico and the U.S.

GM’s Oshawa facility makes the Buick Regal sedan, Cadillac XTS luxury sedan, and Chevrolet Equinox crossover and Impala large sedan. The current versions of all four models are nearing the end of their lifecycles, and GM has said it won’t discuss future products for the Oshawa complex until contract talks are completed.