Stellantis, autoworkers in Canada reach tentative deal after brief strike

Stellantis and unionized autoworkers in Canada reached a tentative contract agreement Monday morning, ending a brief strike that began at midnight.

Why it matters: The tentative deal struck by the automaker and the union, Unifor, covers some 8,200 Stellantis workers. It comes days after the company reached a tentative deal with the United Auto Workers union to end weeks of historic strike action in the U.S.

The big picture: Stellantis has the largest operational footprint and biggest workforce in Canada of the Detroit Three automakers, per Unifor.

• The automaker was the last of the Detroit Three to reach a new agreement with Unifor, which has ratified deals with Ford and General Motors.
• While Unifor's negotiations with Stellantis are separate from the UAW's, the U.S. and Canadian auto industries are closely intertwined.

What they're saying: "I am proud of our members at every Stellantis facility for their quick and decisive action during this brief and effective strike action," said Lana Payne, Unifor national president, in a statement.

• "This agreement will considerably improve the living standards of every Unifor member at Stellantis."

In a separate statement, Stellantis North America chief operating officer Mark Stewart said he is "very proud of the negotiating teams and thankful for their commitment and focused effort in reaching a tentative agreement with Unifor."

Details: The tentative deal, which must be ratified by the union's members, follows the pattern agreement that Unifor reached with the other automakers.

• It includes an increase in hourly and general wages, cost of living allowance, pension plan improvements and new paid holidays.

Go deeper: UAW president sees big contract wins as a turning point in labor movement

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new developments and a statement from Stellantis.