Stellantis employees in Ontario, represented by Unifor, have overwhelmingly voted, with a 97% majority, in support of a strike mandate due to the current deadlock in collective bargaining talks. The voting process took place over a two-day period during the weekend. These workers are based at facilities in Windsor, Toronto, and the dormant Brampton assembly plant.
Unifor is the union representing more than 9,000 Stellantis employees in Canada and has emphasized that resorting to a strike is a last resort option. James Stewart, president of Unifor Local 444, expressed the union’s unity and strength in a social media video following the vote results.
Stellantis responded to CBC News, stating their commitment to engaging in sincere negotiations and striving for an agreement that acknowledges the workforce’s contributions while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of their Canadian operations. Unifor’s national president, Lana Payne, reiterated the members’ determination to secure a “fair agreement” that safeguards jobs for Canadian autoworkers.
Although the union is not currently in a legal position to strike as neither party has requested a No Board report, tension remains, particularly regarding the future of the Brampton factory. Stellantis recently announced plans to sell the Brampton site to defense contractor Roshel, following layoffs of over 2,000 employees in 2023 and the relocation of Jeep Compass production to Illinois.
Unifor has raised concerns that the closure and sale of the Brampton plant could jeopardize workers’ financial security, pensions, and benefits, as well as impact Ontario’s automotive industry and supply chain. Trevor Longley, president and CEO of Stellantis Canada, emphasized the company’s significant investments exceeding $8 billion in its Canadian operations since 2022, underscoring Canada’s importance as a market.
In a positive development, a third shift was reinstated at the Windsor facility in February, indicating a step towards operational stability.