Stellantis employees, represented by Unifor, have overwhelmingly approved a strike mandate with a 97% vote as negotiations for collective bargaining hit a standstill. The voting process spanned two days over the weekend. Workers based in Windsor, Toronto, and the inactive Brampton assembly plant participated in the vote.
Unifor has emphasized that resorting to a strike is the final option. James Stewart, President of Unifor Local 444, expressed, “When you deliver a strike authorization vote north of 97% across our Stellantis workplaces, you send a powerful message of unity and strength, You have given us the tools to get this done.”
A significant issue revolves around the uncertainty surrounding the Brampton facility. Stellantis recently announced plans to sell the property to defense contractor Roshel. In 2023, over 2,000 employees were laid off in Brampton, and the production of Jeep Compass was subsequently shifted to Illinois.
Unifor has raised concerns that the closure and sale of the Brampton plant could jeopardize workers’ compensation, retirement benefits, and have far-reaching implications for Ontario’s automotive industry and supply chain.
Trevor Longley, President and CEO of Stellantis Canada, has previously highlighted Canada’s importance as a market, noting investments exceeding $8 billion in Canadian operations since 2022. In Windsor, a third shift was reinstated in February of this year.
The situation continues to evolve.
