The Ford Motor Company has announced plans to begin production of F-Series Super Duty trucks at the Oakville Assembly Complex starting in summer 2026, according to Unifor.
“This new retooling plan for the Oakville plant addresses our union’s concerns with Ford Motor Company’s decision to delay new vehicle production for a period that was too long, too disruptive, and too harmful to accept,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. She emphasized that the agreement reached with Ford executives ensures a quicker return to work for union members and secures their jobs for the foreseeable future.
Retooling starts this summer
The retooling process will begin this summer, with the installation of equipment for Super Duty production and an integrated stamping facility. The Oakville plant will initially produce the current generation Super Duty trucks in 2026, and later in the decade, it will start manufacturing the next-generation models, including electrified versions. Oakville is set to become the sole initial source for multi-energy Super Duty production.
Production at the Oakville plant halted in May 2024 with the last Ford Edge rolling off the assembly line. The new plan replaces previous intentions to build Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) at the plant, a project delayed from 2025 to 2027. This delay would have resulted in layoffs for Unifor Local 707 members for over three years.
“Finding a solution to support our members was multi-layered and extensive,” said Local 707 Oakville Plant Chairperson Marc Brennan. “This shift in direction reaffirms Ford Motor Company’s commitment to our members.”
Income security during transition
In addition to the new production timeline, Unifor has also secured extended and enhanced income security transition provisions for workers, originally negotiated during 2023 bargaining.
Ford’s commitment to new products in Oakville includes an additional investment of $500 million, on top of the $1.8 billion committed in 2020, the union said. The increased production volumes of Super Duty trucks at Oakville are expected to boost engine production at the Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ont., benefiting Unifor Local 200 members.
Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector, represents 320,000 workers across various industries.
