GM, Canada union in final talks ahead of strike deadline

GM Canada spokeswoman Jennifer Wright said in an email that the company was focused on working with Unifor to reach a "mutually beneficial and competitive new agreement".

Earlier on Monday, Unifor national President Jerry Dias said he was feeling encouraged by the way talks were going.

Talks are expected to go down to the wire in hopes of averting a strike at General Motors, as a midnight deadline looms Monday.

The work stoppage at the St. Catharines transmission and engine plant quickly could force GM's CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, to slow or halt operations, and shortly thereafter could create problems for a number of GM's US plants, analysts say.

The automaker and the union representing its Canadian manufacturing workers have been divided over union demands that GM commit to new vehicle models at its Oshawa, Ontario, plant. The V-8s are used in the hot-selling Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups built at GM's Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in IN and in Mexico and the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs built at GM's Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas and vehicles at Lansing Grand River.

The union that represents auto workers at General Motors said Monday a number of issues remain outstanding in negotiations with the company as a strike deadline drew near.

The Canadian union is particularly concerned with GM's Oshawa Assembly plant, where current products are set to be moved or phased out by next year.

Meanwhile, GM has said publicly it would refuse to discuss new product commitments until after Unifor and its members ratify a new contract.

GM did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As required, the union may also provide briefings at other times.

Industry analysts and sources have said there is nothing in the GM product portfolio for the next several years that could be allocated to Oshawa.

Dias has said the union would not agree to any contract that didn't guarantee more work for its workers in Oshawa and further investment in GM facilities overall.

A strike would affect an engine and transmission plant in St. Catharines, Ontario, near Niagara Falls.

GM has 94 days of Terrain inventory at its disposal, and it has 70 days for the Equinox. He pointed out the union will not extend its strike deadline.

Existing contracts expire September 19 for Canadian GM, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Ford Motor Co workers.

Unifor has another media briefing scheduled for midnight.