đź•‘3 min read
Stellantis and Unifor have reached an impasse in collective bargaining negotiations after 10 days of intensive talks in Toronto.
The two sides had targeted September 11 to reach a tentative agreement, but Unifor’s Master Bargaining Committee has now paused formal negotiations while it considers its next move.
At the center of the dispute is Stellantis’ Canadian manufacturing footprint, particularly the future of Brampton Assembly. However, Unifor is also looking for firmer commitments involving Windsor Assembly and the Etobicoke Casting Plant.
Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario. (Stellantis)
Brampton Remains The Biggest Roadblock
Unifor has made it clear there will be no tentative agreement without an acceptable resolution for Local 1285 members at Brampton.
Stellantis previously planned to bring future Jeep® Compass production to the facility, but that program was pulled in October 2025 as the automaker changed its manufacturing plans, partly in response to tariffs.
In August, Stellantis informed the union that it was considering closing and selling Brampton Assembly to a third party.
The company has since confirmed that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Canadian defense manufacturer Roshel, which has expressed interest in purchasing the plant.
Unifor strongly opposes the proposed sale, arguing that replacing automotive assembly with another industrial operation would not make up for the jobs, supplier activity, and economic impact tied to vehicle production.
Stellantis Etobicoke Casting Plant in Etobicoke, Ontario. (Stellantis).
Windsor And Etobicoke Need More Certainty
The negotiations also involve important questions surrounding Windsor Assembly and Etobicoke Casting.
Unifor wants Stellantis to provide clearer production forecasts for both facilities.
Windsor Assembly remains a cornerstone of Stellantis’ Canadian manufacturing operations, making future production volume especially important for workers and suppliers throughout southwestern Ontario.
Etobicoke Casting is also a key part of the company’s Canadian manufacturing network. The Toronto-area facility produces cast components used in vehicle manufacturing, meaning its future workload is closely tied to Stellantis’ broader North American production plans.
For workers at both plants, the concern isn’t simply what is being produced today. Unifor wants assurances that enough work will remain in Canada to support jobs throughout the life of the next contract.
Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario. (Stellantis).
Economic Deal Comes With Conditions
Unifor says Stellantis has conditionally agreed to the economic pattern established during this year’s Detroit Three bargaining.
The problem is that the offer is tied to the closure of Brampton.
That has made an overall agreement difficult, as the union says better wages and benefits cannot come at the expense of Brampton workers.
The current collective agreement expires September 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
For now, talks are paused. With Brampton unresolved and questions still surrounding future work at Windsor and Etobicoke, Stellantis and Unifor have several major issues to settle before a new agreement can be reached.
Source: Unifor
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Robert S. Miller