Automaker Stellantis has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel regarding the potential sale of its dormant Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant. This move has led to a pause in contract negotiations by the union representing Canadian workers at Stellantis, citing a stalemate over the future of the Brampton facility.
Trevor Longley, the chairman, president, and CEO of Stellantis Canada, mentioned that the company explored various options for the plant, which has been inactive since 2023. Longley expressed in a statement via email that Stellantis views Roshel as a promising avenue to revive sustainable operations at the Brampton Assembly plant, maintaining its strategic significance in Canada’s advanced manufacturing sector and averting prolonged inactivity.
Unifor is currently deliberating on the next steps and has assured to provide more information in the coming days. The ongoing collective agreement between the automaker and the union is due to expire at 11:59 p.m. on September 20. Talks commenced on September 1 in Toronto after Unifor successfully endorsed new collective agreements with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors in Canada earlier in the summer as part of its pattern bargaining with each of the Detroit Three automakers.
The union had set a deadline of September 11 to reach a new agreement with Stellantis, but negotiations stalled after ten days. Unifor spokesperson Kathleen O’Keefe stated that the company’s insistence on closing and selling the Brampton plant has impeded the bargaining process, jeopardizing the wages, pensions, and benefits of Unifor members, and impacting Canada’s industrial sector, particularly in Ontario and the Brampton community.
Moreover, Roshel’s CEO, Roman Shimonov, announced on Friday that the laid-off workers at the Brampton plant would be given first priority for jobs at the facility. Shimonov outlined Roshel’s plan to establish a Canadian Center of Excellence for Defense Manufacturing in Brampton and expressed readiness to offer job opportunities to displaced Unifor workers through various programs.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown expressed disappointment over the potential sale, emphasizing the uncertainty faced by workers for almost three years. Brown criticized Stellantis for what he termed as broken commitments and vowed to push the federal government to hold the company accountable for its promises.
The article also highlighted the lack of confirmed plans for Stellantis’ Windsor assembly plant and Etobicoke casting plant, with Unifor stressing the importance of resolving issues related to the Brampton plant before reaching a tentative settlement. The union’s stance on ensuring a suitable resolution for Local 1285 members at Brampton remains firm.
In conclusion, the union is navigating the next steps following the impasse with Stellantis, with discussions ongoing and plans to meet with the company to chart the way forward. The union has not set a definitive deadline as it evaluates its options in light of recent developments.