Stellantis workers in Canada vote on strike authorization amid Brampton plant dispute

Stellantis workers in Canada are scheduled to vote this weekend on whether to authorize a strike, according to Unifor, the union representing more than 9,000 employees. The vote, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, comes as contract negotiations between the union and the automaker remain at a standstill. Unifor plans to announce the results at the start of next week.

Negotiation Status and Union Position

The previous collective agreement between Stellantis and Unifor expired on Sept. 20 without a new tentative deal being reached. The union stated that while it hopes to avoid a strike, the authorization vote is intended to provide leverage for reaching a negotiated agreement.

“A strike authorization gives the bargaining committee the authority to call a strike if necessary, it does not automatically mean a strike will take place,” said a statement signed by Unifor national president Lana Payne and other members of the union’s bargaining committee. “Strike action remains a last resort, but the ability to strike is an important part of collective bargaining and can help create the conditions for an agreement.”

Contract talks began on Sept. 1 in Toronto. This process followed Unifor’s ratification of new collective agreements with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors in Canada earlier in the summer, part of a pattern bargaining strategy with the Detroit Three automakers.

Dispute Over Brampton Assembly Plant

A central point of contention is the future of the Brampton, Ont., assembly plant, which has been idled since 2023. Negotiations stalled on Sept. 11 when Stellantis signed a memorandum of understanding with defence contractor Roshel regarding a potential sale of the facility.

Stellantis Canada president and CEO Trevor Longley stated in a September letter to employees that “market and trade conditions have directly impacted the original business case” for the plant. He noted that the move to sell could support future operations at the site. More than 2,000 workers were laid off from the Brampton plant when it halted operations in 2023.

The facility had been slated for retooling for Jeep production, a process that began in early 2024. However, the company paused the plan in early 2025 and later announced it was moving production of the Jeep Compass to Illinois, leaving the Brampton plant idled indefinitely. Unifor has filed a grievance alleging this move violated the previous collective agreement.

Potential Sale and Government Response

Roshel has indicated it is willing to consider hiring laid-off workers from the plant as soon as this year “through the federal government’s Light Utility Vehicles procurement program and other automotive and defence opportunities.” Roshel CEO Roman Shimonov said the company plans to establish a Canadian Centre of Excellence for Defence Manufacturing in Brampton in addition to automotive production, which would involve more than 2,000 jobs.

Unifor national president Lana Payne has written to federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, urging the government to block the potential sale and clarify whether the memorandum of understanding breached Stellantis’ previous commitments to Ottawa. Last fall, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he had expressed disappointment to the global head of Stellantis over the move of Jeep Compass production to the United States. Carney stated he reminded the company of its commitments under funding deals, such as keeping the Brampton plant, and warned there would be consequences if obligations were not met. Joly’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin said in a statement this week that the company “remains committed to bargaining in good faith and is prepared to continue discussions toward a negotiated agreement that recognizes the contributions of our employees while supporting the long-term competitiveness of our Canadian operations.”

Why it matters

The outcome of the vote and subsequent negotiations will determine the immediate labor stability for over 9,000 workers in Canada’s automotive sector. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between automakers and unions regarding plant closures, production shifts to the United States, and the enforcement of government funding commitments tied to domestic manufacturing.

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Sources

• bnnbloomberg.ca: Stellantis workers in Canada to vote on possible strike
• ctvnews.ca: Stellantis workers in Canada to vote on possible strike

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.