Unifor represents about 22,000 workers at the three automakers’ Canadian assembly operations and has typically negotiated contracts on four-year terms. In 2020, however, the union opted to negotiate a three-year deal that would realign its contract talks to coincide with those of the UAW.

Unifor President Lana Payne's promises | Tesla talks investment in Ontario | Rising interest rates but strong demand | Canada's getting 500 Level 2 EV chargers

BIG STORY NEWSLETTER: Sign up and get the weekly video newscast delivered to your inbox each Friday morning.

Lana Payne is the new national president at Unifor. She says it’s time for the union to “turn a page” and restore trust in order to move past the kickback scandal that ended Jerry Dias’ presidency early. She also says nothing will change when it comes to auto bargaining, unless committee members what to tweak that approach. And, she plans to grow the union and take its fight “in the street god damnit.”

Unifor is calling for a national auto strategy, and a dedicated federal government ministry to lead it, to capture the significant potential offered by the transition to electric vehicles.