Global automaker Stellantis has announced that ongoing trade tariffs and shifting consumer demand across North America are driving multiple weeks of upcoming layoffs at its vehicle manufacturing facility in Windsor, Ontario. The company stated that the Windsor Assembly Plant will be idled for three weeks beginning later this month, specifically covering the weeks of October 19, October 26, and November 2. More than 6,400 employees at the facility had already experienced a two-week layoff prior to returning to work on a Monday. A company spokesperson emphasized that Stellantis continually evaluates and adjusts its manufacturing footprint to navigate evolving market dynamics and the financial pressure of tariffs. The Windsor plant is responsible for producing the Chrysler Pacifica minivan and the Dodge Charger. This fresh manufacturing downtime arrives amid a period of heightened uncertainty for auto workers across Canada, as Stellantis and the Unifor union remain at a standstill in their collective bargaining talks. Contract negotiations hit a major roadblock largely due to disagreements over the future of the company’s assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario. Stellantis has indicated an intent to sell the Brampton site, pointing to unfavorable market and trade conditions, a move that Unifor has sharply criticized. Unifor’s collective agreement with Stellantis officially expired on September 20, and both sides are currently operating under the terms of the previous agreement while negotiations stall. James Stewart, president of Unifor Local 444 representing Windsor auto workers, addressed the latest production suspension in a social media video update, acknowledging that the news of extended downtime is difficult for the workforce to absorb. Stewart assured employees that union leadership would distribute informational leaflets upon their return to the plant to provide a thorough update regarding the status of ongoing contract negotiations, key issues on the table, and expectations for the future of the facilities in Windsor, Brampton, and Etobicoke.
Source: cbc.ca
