Automaker Stellantis has entered into a preliminary agreement with Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel regarding the potential purchase of its inactive Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant. The Canadian arm of Stellantis is currently in a deadlock with its workforce union over the future of the Brampton facility.
Trevor Longley, who serves as the chairman, president, and CEO of Stellantis Canada, highlighted that the company explored various options for the plant, which has been non-operational since 2023. Longley emphasized that Stellantis views Roshel as a viable avenue to revive sustainable operations at the Brampton Assembly, maintaining its critical role in Canada’s advanced manufacturing sector and averting long periods of inactivity.
Unifor, the union representing Canadian workers at Stellantis, is deliberating its next course of action and plans to share additional information in the coming days. Vito Beato, President of Unifor Local 1285, expressed concerns about external interference in bargaining processes, particularly regarding discussions on the plant’s future.
The current collective agreement between Stellantis and the union is scheduled to expire on September 20 at 11:59 p.m. Discussions commenced on September 1 in Toronto following Unifor’s successful negotiation of new collective agreements with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors in Canada earlier in the year as part of its standard bargaining protocol with the Detroit Three.
The union had set a deadline of September 11 to reach a new agreement with Stellantis but announced on Friday that talks had hit a roadblock after ten days. Unifor’s spokesperson, Kathleen O’Keefe, cited the company’s persistent proposal to close and sell the Brampton plant as a major obstacle in the negotiation process.
Roshel’s CEO, Roman Shimonov, assured that displaced workers from Brampton would receive priority consideration for roles at the plant. Shimonov outlined Roshel’s plan to establish a Canadian Centre of Excellence for Defense Manufacturing in Brampton, alongside its existing automotive production activities, and expressed readiness to re-employ laid-off Unifor workers.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown expressed disappointment over the potential sale, labeling it as yet another broken commitment from Stellantis. Brown emphasized the need for Stellantis to be held accountable for its pledges and urged the federal government to intervene.
Unifor also raised concerns about uncertain future plans for Stellantis’ Windsor assembly plant and Etobicoke casting plant. The union affirmed its stance that no tentative settlement would be reached without a satisfactory resolution for Local 1285 members in Brampton.
James Stewart, president of Unifor Local 444, disclosed the union’s priorities in negotiations with Stellantis and highlighted the impasse reached with the company regarding the Brampton plant’s future. Stewart indicated that the decision to pause bargaining is temporary, with discussions ongoing to determine the next steps.
The union has not set a definitive deadline as discussions continue with Stellantis management to address the issues at hand.
