Over 200 Stellantis Brampton workers move to Windsor while others get income protection

More than 200 workers at the Stellantis manufacturing plant in Brampton are now punching in at the American automaker’s Windsor facility, while other employees waiting to work are receiving less than three-quarters of their regular pay.

Stellantis, which employs around 3,000 workers in Brampton, announced in October that the upcoming production of Jeep Compass vehicles was being shifted away from Brampton to the U.S., despite years of assurances that the Jeeps would be built in Canada.

The decision by the American-based automaker left workers who were already off the job in limbo, and the federal government is serving Stellantis a notice of default after receiving funds for its Windsor battery plant, which included a job guarantee in Brampton.

And while the company has said it has plans for the plan going forward, some 240 former Brampton plant workers “have accepted transfer opportunities to Windsor Assembly Plant to take on new roles,” Stellantis said in a release.

All other hourly workers impacted by the operational pause will continue to receive 70 per cent of their salary, as well as health benefits, the company says.

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Unifor Local 1285 President Vito Beato said in a video update to workers that the union has secured income and pension protections through to September 2026.

Workers at the Brampton facility have been laid off since January 2024, when the plant started “retooling” to produce battery-electric and hybrid vehicles.

The production shift was announced after U.S. President Donald Trump upended the North American automobile industry with his tariffs.

In a meeting with Stellantis, Beato said the union was told the “viability” of building vehicles in Brampton “is contingent on tariffs” and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

He said the union has been invited to Stellantis’ design facility to “see the product and the plans that (the company) has for Brampton,” but was skeptical the trip would lead to more manufacturing.

Beato said he also wants to have an “old-school” sit-down meeting with Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa to “get these ‘big plans’ for Brampton out of the way.”

The company’s president, Jeff Hines, testified in November that the company’s decision to move its Jeep production out of Canada was “not taken lightly.”

“Stellantis continues to work constructively with government partners, labour organizations and relevant stakeholders to strengthen Canadian operations and to create long-term employment opportunities,” the American company said in a release on Tuesday, adding that supporting Brampton workers is “a key priority.”