Ford, CAW to end talks if no deal reached: union

Ford Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers union will break off talks if the two sides can't reach tentative agreement on a new contract, the head of the auto union said Tuesday.

"If we can't get the deal done this week, then it's not likely we would return to the table until 2011," CAW president Ken Lewenza told CBC News.

At issue is what the CAW perceives as Ford's unwillingness to commit to a Canadian manufacturing footprint in exchange for concessions by the union, which represents 7,000 workers in Windsor, St. Thomas and Oakville, Ont.

If Ford shows co-operation in the area of investment in the future, "security for the future, we should be able to get a deal," Lewenza said.

Ford has already said it plans to stop manufacturing vehicles at its plant in St. Thomas in 2011.

'To ignore what's happening in the auto industry today would be difficult for CAW members.' — Ken Lewenza, CAW president

It has also said it needs the CAW to give it the same concessions it gave competitors General Motors and Chrysler earlier this year in order to stay competitive.

Unlike GM and Chrysler, Ford's U.S. parent is expected to announce profitable third-quarter results on Nov. 2, a contradiction that irks Lewenza.

If no deal is reached, "it will be a very, very bad message for Ford workers in Canada," he added.

"To ignore what's happening in the auto industry today would be difficult for CAW members, not directly tomorrow, but long term," he said.

The talks, which are being held in Toronto, have been "tough and slow moving" since they resumed Monday, Lewenza said.

Talks adjourned in September after earlier rounds made no progress.