Tentative Deals Reached At four Auto Parts Plants
Deals end two weekend strikes
Unifor Local 444 has now reached tentative deals with four WindsorEssex auto parts plants — two of which had picket lines over the weekend.
The union reported that agreements were reached Sunday night and Monday morning with HBPO Canada Inc., Dakkota Integrated Systems, and ZF-TRW. Workers at HBPO in Windsor and Dakkota in Tecumseh went on strike at Sunday. Workers at ZF-TRW were also set to go on strike at 12 a.m. Monday, but Local 444 announced a deal shortly before the deadline. The deals for Dakkota and then HBPO came a couple hours later. According to the union, the agreements all follow the pattern of the deal reached on Saturday afternoon for employees of Avancez Assembly Canada.
Dates and times for the ratification votes were still being worked out at press time.
All four facilities supply parts for Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s Windsor Assembly Plant. Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart said early Monday morning that the strikes have ended, but the brief stoppage could still have had an effect on WAP production.
HBPO Canada Inc. is located on Central Avenue and has about 450 Unifor members among its personnel. The plant makes front-end modules for Chrysler and Dodge vehicles.
Dakkota Integrated Systems has operations in Michigan, Illinois, and Kentucky. Their Canadian operation is located on Richard Ruston Drive in Tecumseh, off Patillo Road, and employs about 450 Unifor members.
The company manages the assembly of integrated automotive interiors.
ZF-TRW in Windsor is part of a global corporation that resulted after German auto parts manufacturer ZF Friedrichshafen bought Michigan-based TRW Automotive in 2014.
The Windsor facility is one of four plants ZF-TRW has in Canada. The company makes transmission systems, units and components, and also chassis systems, electronics, sensors and safety technology. Avancez Assembly is a parts supplier with several plants throughout Michigan, as well as a location on Sprucewood Avenue in Windsor. The company’s Canadian operation is focused on tire and wheel modules.