The Unifor union has declared it will not return to collective bargaining with Stellantis until it receives assurances that the federal government will block the sale of the Brampton plant in Ontario. The union, representing 9,000 Stellantis workers in Canada, walked away from negotiations on September 11 after Stellantis confirmed a preliminary agreement to close the Brampton plant and sell it to defense contractor Roshel. The plant had been closed for retooling since 2023, with Stellantis moving its planned Jeep production to the United States following U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles. The sale would eliminate 2,200 jobs and potentially violate a funding agreement where Stellantis received $529 million in taxpayer funds to retool the facility. Unifor National President Lana Payne stated that the government must take concrete action to protect the plant, criticizing the industry minister's suggestion of recovering funds as insufficient. The union has sent a letter to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly demanding guarantees that the plant's sale would not be considered a fulfillment of the government's mandate to protect auto workers. Stellantis Canada CEO Trevor Longley explained that market and trade conditions have made it difficult to find a viable vehicle to produce at the Brampton facility, citing unpredictable trade policies and regulatory challenges. Unifor is seeking a three-year collective agreement matching contracts recently approved with Ford and General Motors, which include 3% annual raises. The current Stellantis agreement expires on Saturday, but Unifor has not yet held a strike vote or applied for federal conciliation. Roshel, the potential buyer, claims it plans to manufacture light utility vehicles for a federal defense project and hire laid-off workers, but Unifor remains skeptical about job security and the plant's future. The union emphasizes that the Brampton plant's closure would mean the loss of high-quality jobs, competitive pay and benefits, and a critical supply chain, with no viable substitute for the assembly capacity.

The Union representing Canadian workers at Stellantis, Unifor, is urging the automaker to honor its commitment to retool the Brampton, Ontario plant for Jeep Compass production, as Stellantis signals plans to sell the facility to armoured vehicle maker Roshel. The union president, Lana Payne, stated that Stellantis is '100 per cent serious about exiting Brampton' and that the company's decision to potentially sell the plant has created complications in ongoing bargaining talks. The Brampton plant has been idle since 2023, initially intended for retooling to produce the Jeep Compass, but the plan was paused in early 2025 and production was moved to the U.S. The union has not accepted Stellantis' decision to sell, emphasizing that 'Don't close, don't sell. Protect the integrity of the plant as a bridge to future vehicle production.' Stellantis has shared a letter with CBC News stating it remains 'firmly committed to Canada,' noting ongoing operations in Windsor, Etobicoke, and investments in R&D. However, the letter also indicated that market and trade conditions have impacted the business case for maintaining the Brampton facility, with 'unpredictable trade policies, challenging regulatory requirements, and affordability pressures' cited as factors. The current collective agreement between Unifor and Stellantis expires on September 20, 2026, and Payne warned that strike action remains a possibility if a settlement isn't reached. Unifor has also written to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, requesting details on government discussions with Stellantis regarding the potential sale. The union criticized the timing of the sale announcement, stating it is 'indefensible' to sell the plant during a trade war and collective bargaining period. Stellantis has reportedly evaluated options to return production to Brampton but found none that provided a 'sustainable long-term business case.' The company has also indicated it is open to meeting with Roshel to understand their vision for the plant. The news comes amid broader trade tensions, including Canada's 25% tariff on U.S.-made vehicles, which Prime Minister Mark Carney described as a response to 'unpredictable trade policies' from the U.S. government. Unifor continues to advocate for the plant to remain operational as a strategic asset for future vehicle production in Canada.