The Canadian Auto Workers is working to complete a working-level exchange of information with Ford Motor Co (F.N) this week before returning to full-scale negotiations with the No. 2 U.S. automaker, the head of the union said on Monday.

The CAW opened negotiations with Ford last Tuesday.

CAW President Ken Lewenza said he expected it would take the remainder of this week to complete an exchange of information of data with Ford about how both sides view the automaker's cost competitiveness on its Canadian operations.

We hope to that that this week, certainly as soon as possible, Lewenza told Reuters in a brief phone interview.

The CAW agreed to significant concessions at Chrysler and General Motors Co [GM.UL] earlier this year to help those companies qualify for billions in government aid.

Both companies committed to maintaining about 20 percent of their Canada-U.S. production in Canada.

The union has said a key condition to reaching a new agreement with Ford would be winning a commitment by the automaker to maintain its current manufacturing presence in Canada.

Lewenza said union negotiators and representatives of Ford were not in agreement on how the concessions granted to GM and Chrysler meant for Ford's labor costs in Canada.

We have a difference of opinion with Ford, Lewenza said.

A condition of resuming full-scale negotiations with Ford is the completion of the fact-finding that working-level teams are doing now, he said.

There will be no further negotiation until all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, he said.

Ford has about 7,000 hourly workers in facilities in Oakville, Windsor, Brampton and St. Thomas, all in Ontario.

(Reporting by Kevin Krolicki; Editing by Richard Chang)

Canada Ford Motor Company Chrysler