CAW talks with Ford continue
Union says automaker won't keep St. Thomas, Ont., plant open
Contract talks between the Canadian Auto Workers and Ford Canada have not broken off, the union confirmed Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday, a report claimed talks with Ford had broken down.
But on Wednesday afternoon, the CAW shot down that report, saying talks that began Sept. 8 were continuing. "We haven't broken off talks here and we continue to have those dialogues with the company," Mike Vince, chair of the CAW's bargaining committee, told CBC News.
"Both sides are still adjourned to discuss costs ... [but we] continue to be in touch via phone and email."
Vince also said the union has yet to hear back from the company on a proposal to host a Ford engine facility in Windsor, Ont.
Ford has said it will not keep a plant in St. Thomas, Ont. open past 2011. It currently has no new vehicles to replace the full-sized sedans that are scheduled to go out of production at that time.
The CAW represents more than 7,000 workers at Ford facilities in the Ontario cities of Oakville, Windsor, Brampton and St. Thomas. Fifteen hundred jobs are at stake in the St. Thomas closure.
Corrections
- A previous version of this story claimed Ford was demanding concessions to keep the St. Thomas plant open. In fact, the company's official position remains that the company has no plans to maintain the plant beyond 2011.Sep 24, 2009 8:29 AM ET