Unifor Stellantis workers in Ontario vote 97% in favour of strike mandate with talks still stalled
The workers are stationed at factories in Windsor and Toronto — as well as the idled Brampton assembly plant.
Employees stationed in Windsor, Toronto — as well as idled Brampton assembly plant
Bob Becken · CBC News
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Stellantis workers represented by Unifor have voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike mandate as collective bargaining negotiations remain stalled.
Two days of voting were held on the weekend.
The workers are stationed at factories in Windsor and Toronto — as well as the idled Brampton assembly plant.
Unifor has said any potential strike action remains its last resort.
“When you deliver a strike authorization vote north of 97% across our Stellantis workplaces, you send a powerful message of unity and strength," said James Stewart, Unifor Local 444 President, in a social media video released Monday morning.
"You have given us the tools to get this done.”
A key sticking point has been the uncertainty around the Brampton factory. Recently, Stellantis said it planned to sell the property to defence contractor Roshel.
More than 2,000 workers were laid off in Brampton in 2023, and the automaker later moved production of its Jeep Compass to Illinois.
Unifor has argued that closing and selling Brampton would threaten workers' wages, pensions and benefits, and have broader consequences for Ontario's automotive sector and supply chain.
Stellantis Canada president and CEO Trevor Longley has earlier said the company considers Canada an important market and has invested more than $8 billion across its Canadian operations since 2022.
In Windsor, a third shift was restored in February of this year.
More to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Becken is with CBC's digital team. Previously, he was an executive producer with CBC Windsor, and held broadcast and digital news director duties with Bell Media and Blackburn Media. You can reach him at bob.becken@cbc.ca.
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