Strike action on the table if Stellantis sticks to plan to sell Brampton plant: union

The union representing over 9,000 Stellantis workers in Canada is warning of a potential strike if the automaker proceeds with plans to sell an assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario. Unifor national president Lana Payne spoke to reporters on Thursday, stating that while the union still hopes to reach a new collective agreement with Stellantis before the existing deal expires on Sunday at 11:59 p.m., this would require the company to change its approach.

Last Friday, Stellantis announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with defence contractor Roshel for a potential sale of the Brampton facility, which has been idle since 2023. Despite Roshel's willingness to consider hiring laid-off workers, Payne emphasizes that the Brampton plant offers a unique quality of jobs that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

Union leader Payne wrote to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly on Wednesday, urging the federal government to intervene and block the potential sale, questioning whether the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Stellantis and the federal government violates the conditions of Ottawa's commitment to the automaker. Joly has indicated that Ottawa seeks a "new model" from Stellantis at the plant and would apply "maximum pressure" to ensure compliance.