Unifor members at Stellantis have voted 97.3 per cent in favour of strike action.
The union held strike authorization votes over the weekend after negotiations with Stellantis reached an impasse in September.
“Unifor members at Stellantis understand how difficult negotiations with the company have been and gave an overwhelming mandate to support their bargaining committee,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Our members are united in their determination to reach a fair agreement with Stellantis that protects jobs for Canadian autoworkers.”
The union is not in a legal strike position at this time, as neither Stellantis nor Unifor has requested a “No Board” report, one of the steps necessary under labour law required for job action.
“We believe there is a path to a fair collective agreement with Stellantis so long as the company honours its commitments and does right by its workers,” said James Stewart, Unifor Local 444 president and Stellantis Master Bargaining Chairperson. “Strike action is always a last resort, but we will not back down and accept a deal that weakens Stellantis’ footprint within Canada’s auto industry due to broken commitments that further cause devastation for our members, families and communities that rely on good union auto jobs.”
A major roadblock in this round of negotiations is the future of the Brampton Assembly Plant. In September, Stellantis confirmed it signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Rochel, a defense industry supplier, for the sale of the plant.
