Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has agreed a new four-year deal with Canadian union Unifor that includes a commitment to invest $325m in a rebuild of the carmaker’s Brampton assembly plant paint shop and a $6.4m investment in upgrading equipment at the Etobicoke casting plant.
The contract also involves two wage increases of 2% each during the period for FCA’s 9,000-plus Unifor members in Canada and signing bonuses totalling $12,000 apiece over the life of the contract.
FCA operates three assembly plants in Canada – at Brampton, Etobicoke and Windsor.
News of the deal comes shortly after a labour agreement the union made with General Motors last month that also involved a substantial commitment to invest in its Canadian sites, reportedly including plans to move some engine production from Mexico into Canada.
Commenting on the new deal, an FCA spokeswoman told Automotive Logistics: “FCA Canada is pleased that Unifor members have voted to ratify a new four-year national labour agreement, covering 9,450 employees. This agreement represents an investment in our Canadian workforce. With the bargaining process now complete, the company and our employees look forward to continuing to build world-class products and achieving the targets set out in our five-year business plan. Further details about our investment plans will be announced at the appropriate time.”
The union was scheduled to move on to new contract talks with Ford this week.
