Stellantis’s plan to restore a third shift at Windsor Assembly Plant does not “balance the scales” as the automaker pulls Jeep Compass production from Brampton, says the head of the union representing thousands of workers at each of the plants.
According to Unifor national president Lana Payne, the automaker is breaking its production commitments, bargained for by Unifor in 2023, to restore a third shift to both the Windsor and Brampton plants.
“The company’s Sept. 9 announcement to add a third shift in Windsorfulfills only part of the negotiated plan—and has nothing to do with its Oct. 14 declaration that Stellantis intends to break its commitment to Brampton workers, the union and the Ontario and federal governments by moving Brampton’s designated product to the U.S.,” Payne said in a news release.
“Even with three shifts in Windsor, Stellantis has delivered only half of its product and investment commitment plan. Offering already expected jobs in Windsor while eliminating Brampton jobs does not balance the scales—it still amounts to a net loss for Canadian autoworkers.”
Production of the next-generation Jeep Compass will now move to Belvidere, Illinois—part of Stellantis’s US$13-billion investment announcement to expand its manufacturing footprint across the border.
That announcement came a month after the automaker announced the return of Windsor Assembly Plant’s third shift, anticipated sometime in early 2026.
Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin reaffirmed the automaker’s intention to restore Windsor’s third shift Thursday in an emailed statement to the Star.
“We have been in Canada for over 100 years, and we are investing,” said Gosselin.
“We are adding a third shift (1,500 jobs) to the Windsor Assembly Plant to support increased demand of all versions of the Chrysler Pacifica and the new SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack and R/T models. Canada is very important to us.”
Despite Stellantis’s Windsor commitment, Mayor Drew Dilkens said the automaker’s decision to pull out of Brampton has cast uncertainty on the entire auto industry in Canada, as well as locally.
“I think it was a punch in the gut to Brampton and the auto industry in Canada,” Dilkens told the Star.
“They had made a commitment to the folks in Brampton to make the vehicle. It’s not like they’re pulling that commitment because the vehicle is not selling, and they simply don’t need to make it.
“They’re pulling it, clearly, to try and put some sprinkles on Donald Trump’s cupcake.
“That is concerning, because when is the deal a deal, and when will they change the terms of a deal at their own whim? Not knowing the answer to that question is concerning for us here in Windsor, after they just made a commitment to return the third shift.”
Meanwhile, Ottawa has warned the automaker it could face legal repercussions if it fails to meet its Canadian commitments.
Foreign Affairs MinisterMélanie Jolyissued a warning letter to Stellantis CEO Anthony Filosa, shared publicly on social media Thursday.
“While the current U.S. tariff environment is creating complex challenges, Stellantis has made important commitments to Canada and its workforce,” said Joly.
“Canadians expect that Stellantis will respect and honour these commitments. Anything short of this is unacceptable. Should Stellantis choose not to respect its obligations, we will act in the interests of all Canadians and hold the company to full account, and exercise all options, including legal.”
Joly called the automaker’s “business decision” to shift Jeep Compass production “unacceptable,” adding that “Stellantis agreed with the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to maintain its full Canadian footprint, including Brampton, in exchange for substantial financial support.
“Anything short of fulfilling that commitment will be considered as default to our agreements.”
Gosselin told the Star that Stellantis has plans for the idled Brampton plant, which will be shared after further discussion with the Canadian government.
Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in Toronto on Thursday that he spoke with the global head of Stellantis shortly before the company’s Tuesday announcement. During that conversation, Carney said he was told that the automaker was seeking a new model to fill Brampton Assembly Plant, pending more trade certainty. Broader talks on renewing the current CUSMA free trade agreement are expected to launch soon.
Back in April, theU.S. imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian automotive parts and vehicles. That’s on top of the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.
“The concern that I have is we are in an uncertain environment where the president of the United States continues to double down on wanting to steal the auto industry, or take the auto industry back from Canada, claiming that we stole it from them, when in fact it’s an industry that we created together with great success for consumers, for shareholders and for workers in all three countries,” said Dilkens.
“I don’t know what the company may do to respond to Donald Trump, and certainly none of us know what Donald Trump may do next.”
President of the Automotive Part Manufacturers’ Association Flavio Volpe criticized the automaker’s move.
“Hundreds of millions of dollars in Canadian parts suppliers’ investments have been casually kicked aside without notice by this cowardly decision by Stellantis,” Volpe posted to social media.
In 2022, Stellantis committed $3.6 billion to retool the Brampton and Windsor assembly plants to align with the company’s electric vehicle and battery development goals.
Both the federal and provincial governments then committed an additional $1.4 billion in public funds for the upgrade work.
A year later, Stellantis and LG Energy entered an agreement with the federal and provincial governments to move forward with the NextStar Energy battery plant in Windsor after construction was briefly halted during a funding dispute.
The governments agreed to provide up to $15 billion in production incentives—two thirds from Ottawa, one third from Queen’s Park—in order to, they said, level the playing field against the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.
“I think our country is right to say, ‘Let’s examine the deals that we’ve made’ because they have poured billions of dollars to help support the auto industry and growth in the auto industry, including in plants like NextStar,” said Dilkens.
“If it were me, I would be pulling out our agreements as well and making sure that the company is following through and all the commitments that they’ve made.”
—With files from the Canadian Press.
