Stellantis has struggled to find a long-term plan for the Brampton Assembly Plant since moving Jeep Compass production to Illinois. After ceasing operations in late 2023, CEO Trevor Longley informed employees that all options were reviewed, but none provided a sustainable business case for continuing operations at the site.
On September 11, Stellantis signed a memorandum of understanding with the defense contractor Roshel regarding the potential sale of its Brampton Assembly Plant. This development, occurring just days before the expiration of the current labor agreement on September 20, has drawn sharp criticism from Unifor president Lana Payne.
“Bargaining remains extremely challenging, and we have reached an impasse,” stated Payne. “Consequently, strike action remains a distinct possibility.” Furthermore, Payne has formally requested that Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly intervene to block the proposed transaction between Stellantis and Roshel.
Stellantis is willing to resume talks with Unifor and has encouraged the union to meet with Roshel. While Roshel promises 2,000 jobs and priority hiring for former staff, experts warn that its projected output of two to three vehicles daily—down from the plant’s previous capacity of 500 to 1,000—could devastate the local supply chain.
