Automaker Stellantis has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel regarding the potential purchase of its dormant Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant. The Canadian arm of Stellantis reported a halt in contract negotiations with the union representing Canadian employees, citing an impasse surrounding the future of the Brampton facility. Trevor Longley, the Chairman, President, and CEO of Stellantis Canada, disclosed that the company explored various options for the plant, which has been inactive since 2023. Longley expressed confidence in Roshel as a viable solution to reviving operations at the Brampton Assembly, emphasizing the preservation of its significance in Canada’s advanced manufacturing industry. Unifor is currently deliberating on their next course of action and intends to provide additional updates soon.
The existing collective agreement between Stellantis and the union is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m. on September 20. Talks commenced in Toronto on September 1 following Unifor’s approval of new collective agreements with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors in Canada earlier in the summer as part of their established pattern bargaining process with the Detroit Three automakers.
The union had set a deadline of September 11 to reach a new agreement with Stellantis; however, negotiations floundered after ten days. Unifor’s spokesperson, Kathleen O’Keefe, pointed out that the company’s persistent proposal to close and sell the Brampton plant had obstructed the bargaining process. O’Keefe underscored the adverse impact of the proposed plant closure and sale on the wages, pensions, and benefits of Unifor members, emphasizing the detrimental effect on Canada’s industrial sector, particularly in Ontario and the Brampton community.
Roshel’s CEO, Roman Shimonov, assured that the laid-off Brampton workers would be given priority for employment at the plant, outlining plans to establish a Canadian Centre of Excellence for Defence Manufacturing in Brampton in addition to its current automotive production. Shimonov pledged to offer letters of commitment prioritizing the reemployment of laid-off Unifor workers, aiming to reintegrate them into the workforce as early as 2026 through the federal government’s Light Utility Vehicles procurement program and other automotive and defense ventures.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown expressed disappointment over the potential sale, criticizing Stellantis for leaving workers in limbo for almost three years and characterizing it as a breach of commitments. Brown urged the federal government to hold Stellantis accountable and demanded transparency from Roshel regarding job opportunities and investment timelines, stressing the importance of engaging with Unifor Local 1285 for the benefit of Brampton workers.
In addition to the uncertainties surrounding the Brampton plant, Unifor highlighted the lack of confirmed plans for Stellantis’ Windsor assembly plant and Etobicoke casting plant. Longley refrained from providing further comments to respect the ongoing collective bargaining process with Unifor.
James Stewart, President of Unifor Local 444, highlighted the union’s unmet priorities in bargaining with Stellantis, including resolving the future of the Brampton plant, securing facility investments, and aligning bargaining patterns with Ford Motor Company. Stewart disclosed that a mutual deadline of September 11 was set, but the union was informed about the plan to sell the Brampton plant on that date, resulting in a decision to pause negotiations. Stewart clarified that the pause is not indefinite, indicating ongoing discussions with the company and plans for future actions without a strict deadline in place.