FORD AND UNIFOR REACH TENTATIVE THREE-YEAR CANADIAN LABOUR DEAL

Ford Motor and Unifor have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year national labour contract covering more than 5,000 unionized Ford workers in Canada, according to Reuters. Ford said the deal was reached Saturday, but the agreement still needs to be ratified by Unifor members before it takes effect.

The tentative deal reduces near-term labour uncertainty for Ford's Canadian operations while leaving the final outcome in the hands of workers. Reuters reported that details of the agreement had not yet been disclosed publicly, meaning wage, benefit, pension, investment and job-security terms remain to be confirmed through the union's ratification process.

The agreement follows the start of Unifor's 2026 bargaining round with Ford in June. Reuters reported at the time that Unifor began negotiations with Ford as part of new contract talks with the Detroit Three automakers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.

Unifor represents nearly 19,000 workers across the Detroit Three in Canada, according to Reuters. The Ford agreement is important beyond Ford itself because Canadian auto bargaining often creates pressure points or reference points for later talks with the other major automakers.

The contract covers a workforce tied to one of Canada's most important manufacturing sectors. Auto production remains closely connected to Ontario's industrial base, supplier networks and cross-border trade with the United States. A ratified agreement would provide a clearer labour framework for Ford's Canadian operations through the next three years.

For workers, the key questions will be what the tentative deal contains and whether members believe it meets expectations on pay, benefits, job security and future investment. Reuters reported that Unifor entered the Detroit Three talks seeking improved wages, stronger job security and better benefits for its members.

For Ford, the agreement could help stabilize planning at a time when automakers are managing electric-vehicle transition costs, supply-chain pressure, changing demand and competition across North America. Those wider pressures do not determine the contents of the contract, but they form the business backdrop for the negotiations.

The next step is ratification. Until Unifor members vote to approve the deal, it remains tentative. If workers ratify it, the agreement will set the national contract terms for more than 5,000 Ford employees in Canada. If they reject it, Ford and Unifor would need to return to bargaining or face renewed labour uncertainty.

Fact-check date: July 12, 2026
Article type: News
Sources: Reuters; The Globe and Mail; The Canadian Press; statements from Ford and Unifor as reported by Reuters