GM Reaches Tentative Agreement with Canadian Autoworkers

Key Takeaways

• General Motors and Unifor have reached tentative agreements covering more than 4,600 unionized workers at four Ontario facilities.
• The agreements cover GM operations in Oshawa, Ingersoll, St. Catharines, and Woodstock.
• Unifor’s General Motors Master Bargaining Committee unanimously endorsed the tentative agreements.
• Unifor says the deal provides gains in wages and benefits while also addressing job security.
• The full terms will be presented to workers at ratification meetings scheduled for August 29-30, 2026.

What Did GM and Unifor Agree To?

General Motors and Unifor have reached tentative collective agreements covering more than 4,600 workers at four GM facilities in Ontario. The agreements cover employees at the Oshawa Assembly Plant, CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre.

The agreement was reached on August 22, 2026, less than two weeks after negotiations began. According to Unifor’s official announcement, the union’s bargaining committee unanimously endorsed the deal, which it says delivers strong gains in income and benefits during a difficult period for Canadian autoworkers.

GM Canada also confirmed that the tentative agreements include increases in wages, benefits, and job security. The company said the agreements remain subject to ratification by the affected employees.

Which GM Facilities Are Covered?

The tentative GM-Unifor agreements cover four Ontario facilities and more than 4,600 hourly workers. When bargaining opened, Unifor said its GM membership was divided among Oshawa, CAMI in Ingersoll, St. Catharines, and Woodstock.

GM Facility	Location	Unifor Members
Oshawa Assembly Plant	Oshawa, Ontario	2,750
CAMI Assembly Plant	Ingersoll, Ontario	1,050
St. Catharines Propulsion Plant	St. Catharines, Ontario	700
Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre	Woodstock, Ontario	110
Total	Ontario	More than 4,600

What Are the Wage and Benefit Increases?

The complete economic terms of the GM agreement have not yet been released publicly. Unifor says the details will be presented to members during ratification meetings on August 29-30.

The negotiations followed the pattern established by Unifor’s recently ratified three-year agreement with Ford. However, the Ford contract should not be treated as the final GM contract. Specific GM wage increases, bonuses, allowances, and other benefits have not yet been officially disclosed.

GM Canada said the tentative agreements include important increases in wages and benefits as well as measures related to job security. The company has asked that additional details remain confidential until Unifor completes its ratification process.

Why Was the CAMI Plant Important?

The CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll was a significant issue heading into the negotiations because production at the facility had been idled. Unifor’s opening bargaining statement said approximately 30% of its GM members in Canada were on layoff when talks began, including 1,050 workers represented at CAMI.

CAMI previously produced Chevrolet BrightDrop electric commercial vans and battery modules. The plant’s uncertain production future made job security and the long-term outlook for GM’s Canadian operations important issues for workers.

Unifor said before negotiations began that it wanted meaningful discussions about GM’s operations and the future of automotive jobs in Canada. The union also said members expected the Ford bargaining pattern to be respected while seeking greater certainty around their facilities.

How Did the GM Talks Compare With Ford?

The GM negotiations followed Unifor’s successful bargaining round with Ford Motor Company. Unifor reached a three-year tentative agreement with Ford in July, and workers subsequently ratified it.

The Ford agreement established the bargaining pattern that Unifor brought into discussions with GM. Unifor said the new GM agreements secure that pattern, although the precise provisions of the GM contract will not be known until the union releases the details to members.

The timing is significant for Canada’s automotive industry because GM and Ford are negotiating against a backdrop of trade uncertainty and pressure on North American vehicle manufacturing costs.

What Happens Next for GM Workers?

The GM-Unifor agreements are still tentative. The next major step is the ratification process, with meetings scheduled for August 29-30, 2026. Workers will receive the complete terms of the agreements before voting.

Until members approve the agreements, the proposed contracts do not become final collective agreements. The unanimous endorsement from Unifor’s GM Master Bargaining Committee means the union’s bargaining leadership supports the deal, but the membership still has the final say.

What Does the Deal Mean for GM’s Canadian Operations?

The agreement gives GM and its Canadian workforce a degree of labor stability at a time when the country’s automotive manufacturing sector is dealing with trade uncertainty and questions about future production.

GM has also emphasized its investment in Canadian manufacturing. The automaker said it has invested approximately C$3.3 billion in its Canadian manufacturing plants since 2020. GM Canada’s official bargaining announcement said those investments are intended to support next-generation products and Canadian jobs.

For Unifor members, the agreement is important because it combines economic improvements with provisions addressing job security. For GM, reaching a deal without a strike or prolonged disruption provides greater certainty across its Ontario manufacturing and distribution operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did GM and Unifor reach a final agreement?

No. GM and Unifor reached tentative agreements on August 22, 2026. The agreements still need to be ratified by the affected union members.

Q: How many GM workers are covered by the agreement?

The tentative agreements cover more than 4,600 Unifor members at GM facilities in Oshawa, Ingersoll, St. Catharines, and Woodstock, Ontario.

Q: Which GM plants are included?

The agreements cover the Oshawa Assembly Plant, CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre.

Q: How many GM Unifor workers were on layoff?

When negotiations opened on August 10, approximately 30% of GM’s Unifor-represented workers in Canada were on layoff. Unifor’s membership figures included 1,050 workers at the idled CAMI plant.

Q: When will GM workers vote on the agreement?

Unifor has scheduled ratification meetings for August 29-30, 2026. The full terms of the tentative agreements are expected to be presented to members at those meetings.

Q: What are the exact GM wage increases?

The exact GM wage increases and other financial provisions have not yet been publicly released. Unifor says members will receive the full details during the ratification process, so figures from the separate Ford agreement should not be presented as confirmed GM terms.

Q: Why is the CAMI plant important?

CAMI in Ingersoll is significant because its production has been idled, leaving approximately 1,050 Unifor members represented at the facility. The future of GM’s Canadian operations and job security were among the issues surrounding the 2026 bargaining round.