Hundreds of Unifor members and community supporters rallied Saturday outside the Stellantis Brampton Assembly Plant to oppose U.S. tariffs and demand action to protect approximately 3,000 jobs at the facility.
The plant has been stalled since February, when retooling work for next-generation electric and gas-powered Jeep vehicles stopped following the U.S. government’s announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian-built vehicles, according to the union.
“We’re in the biggest crisis our country has ever faced and the only way through it is working people coming together, working with every political leader we can to make sure we are protecting every single Canadian job,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president.
Political leaders attend rally
Ontario Premier Doug Ford attended the rally and called for the plant to reopen.
“I’ve never been more proud to stand with a group of men and women who have worked their backs off to build this factory. Our message to Stellantis is clear—we need to get our workers back in that plant,” Ford told rally attendees, according to the union. “Our government will continue to protect the workers, to protect their jobs, to protect the communities, and we will always have their backs.”
Payne said the plant remains critical to the community and workers were promised a future that has been put on hold.
“This plant is the lifeblood of this community. It’s not going anywhere. Restarting the Brampton assembly plant retool and delivering on their commitments is not a question of if—it is a question of when,” Payne said.
Workers ready to return
Vito Beato, vice-chair of the Stellantis Master Bargaining Committee and president of Unifor Local 1285, said workers are prepared to return to production.
“Our members, our families, and this community are ready to go back to work and build the best cars, as we did before,” Beato said.
Payne called for multi-level, non-partisan government strategies to support Canadian jobs amid U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Union calls for action from federal government
Speakers at the rally called for Canada to resist U.S. trade attacks, take steps to protect Canadian industries and communities, and hold companies accountable for production relocation decisions, according to the union.
“This fight is about the future of Canada. It’s not just about protecting the jobs we have today, it’s about seizing the opportunity to build a more sustainable, self-reliant economy that supports workers in every province and sector,” said Samia Hashi, Unifor Ontario regional director.
Payne said Prime Minister Mark Carney should reject concessionary negotiations during his upcoming trip to Washington and develop a long-term economic strategy. The union outlined its recommendations in a document titled “Charting a New Path for Canada’s Economy.”
“Our Prime Minister is on his way to Washington this week and he needs to have one message for President Trump. Canada has leverage, a lot of it, and we are prepared to use it to defend Canadian workers, to defend Canadian jobs. Canada’s auto industry is worth fighting for,” Payne said.
Unifor represents 320,000 workers in the private sector across Canada.
