Ford Canadian Auto Workers Vote On Labor Deal

Toronto, Canada (AHN) - Some 9,000 union members of the Canadian Auto Workers in Ford Motor Co. factories in Oakville, Windsor, Bramalea and St. Thomas will vote on an interim three-year deal with the U.S. car maker.

The labor deal, which will expire September 14, 2011, will freeze base wages over the period, disallow a two-tier system for wages, benefits and pension payments, "modest improvements" in health benefits, and insurance for spouses, among other provisions, the CAW said.

According to MarketWatch, the agreement is "a good deal for our members at Ford during the most difficult times many of us have faced," Mike Vince, chief negotiator of the CAW bargaining committee, said in a statement Friday.

It added that Ford's St. Thomas assembly plant will operate until September 2011, extended for another year from its expected closure.

CAW said in a statement Saturday that it would meet on Monday with General Motors Corp. and Tuesday with the Chrysler LLC to negotiate and adapt similar labor deals it had with Ford.

Results of the weekend vote will be announced Sunday night.