NextStar Energy, a joint venture between Chrysler parent company Stellantis and South Korean electronics giant LG Energy Solution, reached a tentative agreement for employees at its Windsor, Ont., battery plant, spokesperson Daniela Ferro confirmed. The union’s Local 444 branch said members will vote on whether to ratify the agreement this Sunday. (The Logic)

Talking point: If ratified, the deal could set a precedent for Canada’s growing battery sector as autoworkers worry about shaky job prospects during the U.S. trade war. Workers have long fretted that the transition to electric vehicles would prompt automakers to lay off union workers at engine plants and replace them with lower-wage jobs at battery plants. The issue came to a head in the United Auto Workers strike in 2023, when concessions opened the floodgates for more union deals. Unifor’s vote will likely be closely watched at GM, Volkswagen, Toyota and Honda, all of which are investing in battery manufacturing in Canada.