Johnson Controls, CAW reach tentative labor pact

The Canadian Auto Workers union said today it reached a tentative labor pact with auto supplier Johnson Controls Inc. just hours before a deadline for a strike that would have had an immediate impact on General Motors vehicle production.

The CAW represents more than 300 workers at Johnson Controls' Whitby, Ontario, plant. The employees produce door pads and floor consoles for the Chevrolet Impala, as well as seats for the Chevy Camaro, both of which are manufactured at GM's Oshawa, Ontario, plant.

"The fight was to ensure that these jobs stayed in Canada," Jerry Dias, assistant to the CAW national president, said in a statement. "JCI was attempting to move the jobs to the U.S. Ultimately, we were successful in preserving all the current work for the General Motors Oshawa complex."

The union said that the details of the agreement would be released on Sunday afternoon following a ratification meeting.