Stellantis employees in Ontario, represented by Unifor, have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike mandate, with 97% support, due to the ongoing standstill in collective bargaining talks. The vote took place over a two-day period during the weekend. These workers are located at plants in Windsor, Toronto, and the currently closed Brampton assembly facility.
Unifor represents more than 9,000 Stellantis workers in Canada and has emphasized that striking is a last resort. The union’s president, James Stewart of Local 444, stated that the high percentage of support for the strike mandate shows unity and strength among the workforce.
Regarding the negotiations, Stellantis reaffirmed its commitment to engaging in good-faith bargaining to secure a mutually beneficial agreement that acknowledges the employees’ contributions while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of its Canadian operations. Unifor’s national president, Lana Payne, expressed the union members’ determination to achieve a fair deal that safeguards jobs for Canadian autoworkers.
Despite the strike mandate vote, the union clarified that it is not currently in a legal position to strike as neither Stellantis nor Unifor has requested a No Board report, a requisite step for job action under labor laws. A significant issue in the negotiations has been the uncertainty surrounding the Brampton plant, where over 2,000 workers were laid off in 2023, and production of the Jeep Compass was relocated to Illinois.
Unifor has raised concerns that selling the Brampton facility could jeopardize worker compensation, retirement benefits, and have far-reaching impacts on Ontario’s auto industry and supply chain. Stellantis Canada’s CEO, Trevor Longley, highlighted the company’s substantial investments of over $8 billion in its Canadian operations since 2022, underscoring Canada’s significance as a key market.
In a positive development, a third shift was reinstated in Windsor in February, indicating some stability in operations amidst the ongoing negotiations and strike mandate discussions.
