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The union representing Canadian workers at Stellantis is urging the automaker to keep its commitment to retooling its Brampton Ont., plant as the company looks poised to sell it instead.
Stellantis announced last Friday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Canadian armoured vehicle maker Roshel on a potential sale of its Brampton plant.
The plant has been idle since 2023, initially in order to be retooled for Jeep Compass production before the company paused the plan in early 2025. It later announced it was moving production of the vehicle model to the U.S instead.
Speaking at a news conference Thursday in Windsor, Unifor national president Lana Payne said the union does not accept the automaker’s decision to sell.
“Stellantis is one-hundred per cent serious about exiting Brampton. Currently that is their only plan. Everyone needs to understand this, especially our governments,” Payne said.
“Our union has not wavered in its position that the best course of action for Brampton is for Stellantis to commence retooling of the promised Jeep Compass,” she said.
“Don’t close, don’t sell. Protect the integrity of the plant as a bridge to future vehicle production.”
Unifor says it received information from Stellantis on Wednesday about plans to possibly close or sell the Brampton plant. CBC Dale Manucdoc breaks down what we know.
We are committed to Canada, Stellantis says
A letter from Stellantis shared with CBC News by a worker at the Brampton plant said the automaker remains “firmly” committed to Canada.
“Now in our 101st year here, we continue to build vehicles in Windsor, operate our Etobicoke casting facility and invest in advanced research and development at our engineering centre in Windsor,” the statement said.
“We remain available to meet with Unifor and encourage them to meet with Roshel to better understand their vision for the Brampton assembly plant.”
The letter said that the automaker evaluated a “range of options” to return production to Brampton, but none “provided a sustainable long-term business case that would support continued operations at the facility.”
CBC has reached out to Stellantis, Roshel, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for comment.
Union asks industry minister for clarity
Payne said that up until the union found out about the automaker’s MOU with Roshel, the conversation with Stellantis was that they were committed to Brampton.
Roshel’s entry has interfered with and brought “additional complications” to the union’s bargaining with Stellantis, she said.
The current collective agreement between the automaker and union is set to expire Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m.
Payne sent a letter to federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly Wednesday, asking her to provide details on what conversations the government may have had with Stellantis on the MOU, what options were considered, and whether the government has approved a sale.
“Selling that plant in the middle of a trade war, and in the middle of collective bargaining, is indefensible,” she said.
