The bargaining talks between Stellantis and the union representing more than 6,000 workers at the Windsor Assembly plant are scheduled to start on Tuesday. Unifor is finally engaging in negotiations with Stellantis, making it the final of the Big 3 automakers to do so. The official start time for negotiations is set for 11 a.m. Eastern Time, as announced by Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart in a video message on social media.
Although the current collective agreement is due to expire at midnight on September 20, negotiators are aiming to reach an agreement earlier, before the plant’s two-week shutdown at the end of the month. Stewart mentioned that they plan to work continuously through Labor Day without returning home, striving to achieve an internal deadline of September 11.
The negotiations come at a crucial time for Windsor’s automotive industry, which has been dealing with significant U.S. tariffs on exports to the United States. President Donald Trump has even threatened to raise these tariffs to 50 percent effective January 1.
Unifor members recently voted to approve a new deal with General Motors, which includes wage hikes for production and skilled trades workers, a $10,000 productivity bonus, and the continuation of a cost-of-living allowance. Similarly, Ford union members ratified a new agreement with the company in July, featuring wage increases, a renewed cost-of-living allowance, and planned investments in Canadian manufacturing.
A key focus for the union in negotiations with Stellantis is securing future production allocations for both the Windsor Assembly plant and the idle Brampton plant. Approximately 2,200 Brampton workers are currently on layoff status, and Unifor expressed concerns after Stellantis indicated the potential sale of the plant, which Unifor national president Lana Payne described as a significant blow to the Canadian automotive sector.
Acknowledging the complexities arising from trade pressures imposed by the Trump administration, Stewart emphasized the challenges faced by negotiators. He stressed the critical nature of the negotiations, stating that they are fighting vigorously to protect the auto industry amidst unfavorable sentiments from the U.S. administration.
[End of rewritten article]