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Unifor is deeply concerned following the disclosure that Stellantis is seriously considering the closure and sale of the Brampton Assembly Plant.
On August 12, 2026, the company informed the union of its intent to open discussions with another firm about the potential sale of the plant.
Stellantis has not provided our union with formal written notice of closure of the Brampton plant. Under the terms of our Collective Agreement, the company must provide no less than one-year’s notice of any such closure or sale.
More than 2,200 Unifor Local 1285 members employed at Brampton Assembly have been on layoff since the plant was idled in December 2023, to retool for the production of the Jeep Compass electric SUV.
In February 2025 Stellantis announced it would temporarily pause ongoing retooling work with the announcement in October 2025 that future production of the Jeep Compass would be relocated to the United States, idling the Brampton plant indefinitely.
Unifor’s position on Brampton Assembly Plant has been unwavering.
The union maintains the relocation of the Jeep Compass violates both the Collective Agreement and agreements made by the company for significant federal and provincial government funding.
While our union has not been a direct party to dialogue between Stellantis and government officials, launched as a result of the company’s breach of commitment, that process has clearly failed to deliver an adequate resolution.
Throughout the retooling and subsequent idling of the plant Stellantis maintained its intention to reopen the facility and uphold its commitment to our members. The shift to pursue a potential sale is a dire development. The closure of the Stellantis plant would cause a serious reduction in Canada’s automotive footprint impacting thousands of jobs across the region. There is no replacement for the high-paid, union jobs developed under auto sector collective agreements built-up over 80 years.
This potential closure highlights the dangerous repercussions of the ongoing auto tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. For the past 18 months, Unifor has called repeatedly for action to prevent this type of threat to Canada’s auto sector and the jobs it supports.
In the coming days and weeks, Unifor will engage with company executives, and every level of government.
Our members can be assured that we will use the opportunity of upcoming contract negotiations with Stellantis to discuss this matter and to ensure jobs and incomes are protected to the best of our ability.
In solidarity,
Lana Payne, Unifor National President
James Stewart, Unifor Chair of Stellantis Council, President of Unifor Local 444
Vito Beato, Unifor Vice-Chair of Stellantis Council, Unifor Local 1285 President
