“It’s been a tough environment in recent years between COVID, between the economic pressures with inflation, with housing prices, and that’s something the entire industry is having to reconcile.” A counterbalance to high levels of inflation is “something that’s going to be on the table through these negotiations,” the official added. Income security for workers in Oakville when Ford’s assembly plant shuts down for retooling next year, is also likely to be among the key issues the company will “need to address together with Unifor,” as part of the talks, the official said. From the automaker’s side, the official pointed…