TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor announced that pending ratification of a tentative agreement with General Motors, the next company in negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers will be Fiat – Chrysler Automobile (FCA).

"Our members at GM will have the opportunity to vote on the tentative agreement this Sunday. If members support the recommendation and approve the new four year Collective Agreement we will shift our focus and immediately resume negotiations with FCA," said Jerry Dias National President. "Unifor will be seeking a pattern settlement that includes our top priority - investment."

Fiat Chrysler employs 9,750 Unifor members making the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger (Brampton Assembly Plant with 3,300 Unifor members), the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Pacifica (Windsor Assembly Plant with 6,000 Unifor members) and cast components (Etobicoke Casting plant with 450 Unifor members).

With pattern bargaining, negotiations focus on one company to reach an agreement that sets a standard for the auto industry in Canada. Once an agreement, with the target company is ratified, by members in that specific company the focus in bargaining shifts to the second company, and then the third.

 "We have one simple message for all the Detroit Three automakers: there will be no deal without commitments to new investments in Canada," Dias said.

For more information and background, go to www.unifor.org/autotalks16 or follow @Autotalks16.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers, including 23,050 at the Detroit Three. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.

SOURCE Unifor