Union votes for strike mandate in Canadian auto talks

The union representing most Canadian autoworkers has voted for a strike mandate, it said on Sunday, bolstering its position in contract negotiations with the Big Three US carmakers.

Unifor, which represents more than 20,000 autoworkers, is pushing General Motors Co, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Ford Motor Co to invest further in the province of Ontario, home to nearly all of Canada's auto industry, in talks that began this month. Members voted close to 100 percent in favor of granting Unifor a mandate to strike, according to a statement from the union.

That means workers are in a position to walk off the job if the parties cannot come to terms. The union's current four-year contract with automakers expires on Sept 19.