Unifor Members Vote on Strike Mandate Against Stellantis
Unifor members are voting October 17-18 on a strike mandate against Stellantis over the proposed sale of an idled assembly plant in Brampton.
More than 9,000 Canadian workers represented by Unifor began voting on October 17, 2026, to determine whether to grant their union a strike mandate against automaker Stellantis. The two-day vote follows a contract impasse reached on September 11 after negotiations that began in Toronto on September 1 stalled.
The dispute centers on the future of an idled assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario. Stellantis signed a memorandum of understanding to sell the facility to defense contractor Roshel Inc., which plans to establish a Canadian Centre of Excellence for Defence Manufacturing. Unifor opposes the sale and has filed a grievance, alleging the move violates the previous collective agreement. The plant halted operations in 2023, leading to over 2,000 layoffs after Stellantis moved Jeep Compass production to Illinois.
Stellantis officials attributed the sale to market and trade conditions that undermined the business case for the facility, though they suggested the transaction could support future employment. Unifor National President Lana Payne has urged Industry Minister Mélanie Joly to block the sale. Prime Minister Mark Carney previously warned the automaker of consequences for failing to meet funding commitments for the site.
Union leadership stated that a strike authorization is a last resort intended to provide leverage for a negotiated agreement. Results of the vote are scheduled for public release on October 19.
