The union representing workers at Stellantis’s Brampton assembly plant says it still hasn’t heard firm plans from the automaker to produce another vehicle there.
Despite reports that the company’s CEO Anthony Filosa gave assurances to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford that there are other options for the factory, Unifor’s Stellantis division said the idle plant’s future is still in question after the company announced Tuesday it was shifting production of the new generation of its Jeep Compass to Illinois.
“To be clear, Unifor has not been notified of any alternative plans for production at Brampton. There is no reason to treat these public statements as credible, or reliable,” said Unifor’s Stellantis Council, which represents 8,000 Stellantis workers across Canada, including roughly 3,000 in Brampton. “Further, the federal government is not the legal bargaining agent for Brampton Assembly Plant workers. Any future conversations about the future of Brampton Assembly Plant must include Unifor.”
In an emailed statement, Stellantis stressed the company’s commitment to the Canadian market, but didn’t specify whether a particular model would be committed to the Brampton plant.
“Stellantis will continue working with our partners across federal and provincial governments, as well as with Unifor, to advance a shared agenda that supports continued investment, safeguards high-value Canadian jobs, and fosters durable economic growth,” the company said.
The union said it got just minutes notice that Stellantis wouldn’t be producing the latest Compass in Brampton, after months of reassurances that the company was committed to building it there once the plant was retooled.
“Stellantis’ decision is an egregious violation of the company’s collective agreement commitments made to our union, our members and their families,” the union said.
The plant has been idle for roughly 18 months, and the retooling was put on hold in February.
“Stellantis’ actions are appalling … For 8 months, company representatives reassured us that the vehicle commitment to Brampton was unchanged — although they consistently failed to communicate regular updates to our members,” Unifor said.
Tuesday, Stellantis announced a $13-billion U.S. manufacturing expansion, switching production of the new version of their popular Jeep Compass from Brampton to Illinois. The previous version is being made in Mexico.
Doug Ford said he “had a conversation with the president of Stellantis” on Tuesday about the situation in Brampton.
“He said, ‘Well, we’re going to postpone it for a year, we’re going to find a new model (for the Brampton factory),’” Ford said Wednesday of their chat.
The premier said the auto giant told him 1,500 of the 3,000 Brampton jobs in jeopardy could move to Windsor, where Stellantis is building an EV factory.
Thursday, Carney said Filosa told him the company is looking at finding a new model for the Brampton plant, but that a decision would require more trade certainty.
“They’re looking at different models being produced in Brampton. That decision would be taken in the context of the finalization of the USMCA,” said Carney.
The North American free trade deal, also known as CUSMA, is up for renewal next year, creating uncertainty over what longer-term tariffs Canadian automotive production may face.
Tuesday’s news came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump and his commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said they’re coming for Canada’s auto industry.
With files from Robert Benzie and The Canadian Press
