The union representing Canadian employees at Stellantis is urging the company to uphold its commitment to retool the Brampton Ont., plant amid indications of a potential sale. Stellantis recently disclosed that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Roshel, a Canadian armoured vehicle manufacturer, regarding the potential sale of the Brampton facility.
During a news conference in Toronto, Unifor’s national president Lana Payne expressed the union’s opposition to Stellantis’ decision to sell the plant. Payne emphasized that Stellantis is actively planning to exit Brampton, reiterating the urgency of this situation, especially for governmental stakeholders.
The Brampton plant has remained inactive since 2023, initially scheduled for retooling to accommodate Jeep Compass production before the plan was halted in early 2025. Stellantis later redirected the production of the vehicle model to the U.S. instead of Canada. Unifor continues to advocate for Stellantis to proceed with retooling for the promised Jeep Compass production, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the plant’s operational integrity for future vehicle manufacturing.
A communication from Stellantis conveyed its ongoing commitment to Canada, highlighting its longstanding presence and investments in Canada, including vehicle production in Windsor and operations at its Etobicoke casting facility and engineering center. The company expressed readiness to engage with Unifor and encouraged discussions with Roshel to understand their plans for the Brampton plant.
Unifor has not engaged in discussions with Roshel directly. Roshel’s CEO, Roman Shimonov, outlined the company’s ambitious production plans for Brampton, aiming to reintegrate laid-off Unifor workers and create over 2,000 jobs while introducing new capabilities like ballistic steel production to Canada.
Stellantis emphasized that the MOU with Roshel offers a viable path to generate long-term economic value for Brampton, Ontario, and Canada, creating employment opportunities and supporting economic growth. The company cited challenging market and trade conditions that influenced the decision-making process regarding the Brampton plant’s future.
Union leader Lana Payne expressed concerns over the potential impact of Roshel’s involvement on Stellantis’ commitment to Brampton, noting that strike action remains a possibility. The current collective agreement between Stellantis and the union is set to expire soon, prompting efforts to reach a tentative settlement and avoid the need for a strike.
Ardis Snow, a long-time worker at the Brampton plant, highlighted the significant anxiety among employees due to the uncertain future. The potential closure of the plant would have devastating consequences, affecting not only the workers but also the broader automotive industry in Canada.
Automotive reporter Greg Layson described the situation surrounding the Brampton plant and ongoing negotiations as complex and challenging. He emphasized the importance of retaining the plant’s operations and fulfilling commitments made by Stellantis to secure federal and provincial investments. The uncertainties stemming from trade wars and upcoming events could rapidly influence economic policies and market conditions.
The evolving developments surrounding Stellantis and the future of the Brampton plant underscore the critical importance of maintaining production and employment in the Canadian automotive sector, amidst shifting market dynamics and regulatory challenges.