OTTAWA — Despite making progress with Ford Motor Co. of Canada during contract talks over the weekend, Ken Lewenza, the president of the Canadian Auto Workers union, renewed his threat on Sunday to strike all three Detroit automakers.
Lewenza told a news conference that the union would now concentrate its efforts on negotiating a deal with Ford, which it hopes to present to the Canadian branches of General Motors and Chrysler before the strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. Monday.
But he added that if no agreement was signed or close to resolution at that time, the union may start three simultaneous strikes.
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Such a step would be unprecedented for the Canadian union, which normally selects just a single company as its strike target.
Canada’s manufacturing sector is disproportionately dependent on Detroit’s automakers, as well as Honda and Toyota.
The loss of production could have a significant impact on the country’s economy.