CAW Begins Early Contract Talks With GM’s CAMI Plant

The Canadian Auto Workers union said it’s starting early contract negotiations today with General Motors Co. (GM)’s CAMI assembly plant.

The negotiations will take place over the next two weeks, and the Toronto-based union and Detroit-based GM are aiming to reach an agreement by March 24, according to a statement. The current contract doesn’t expire until Sept. 16.

The plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, bargains separately from other GM plants represented by the CAW. Those factories reached a four-year labor agreement last year. That accord reduced the hourly rate for new hires to C$20.40 ($19.83) from C$23.80. The agreement was similar to agreements reached with Ford Motor Co. (F) and Chrysler Group LLC.

GM on March 8 announced plans to invest in the Ingersoll plant to install body shop equipment and tools to permit the factory to build more types of vehicles. The factory’s current products include the Chevrolet Equinox.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Koenig in Southfield, Michigan at wkoenig@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bill Koenig at wkoenig@bloomberg.net