Unifor Says Stellantis Has Sold Brampton Assembly Plant After Automaker Refuses to Comment
The union Unifor believes Stellantis has finalized the sale of its Brampton assembly plant after the automaker refused to confirm or deny the transaction during recent bargaining meetings. The development follows a September memorandum of understanding with armoured vehicle manufacturer Roshel and comes as workers remain on strike alert amid stalled negotiations over job security.
Unifor’s bargaining team met with Stellantis to discuss reports that the Brampton assembly plant had been sold, but the automaker refused to confirm or deny whether the transaction had been finalized. According to the union, Stellantis also did not provide a timeline for addressing the question. Unifor interprets the company's refusal to comment as confirmation that the plant has been sold.
In September, Stellantis signed a memorandum of understanding with Roshel, a Brampton-based armoured vehicle manufacturer, regarding a potential sale of the facility. Global News contacted Stellantis, Roshel, and the Ministry of Industry for confirmation but received no response before publication.
The uncertainty surrounding the plant's ownership arises during an ongoing labor dispute between Unifor and Stellantis. Bargaining between the two parties is at an impasse over key issues, including job security. Last month, Stellantis workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of giving their union a strike mandate, with 97.3 per cent of participating Unifor members voting to authorize a strike if needed.
The Brampton assembly plant stopped operations in 2023, resulting in more than 2,000 workers being laid off. The potential finalization of a sale to Roshel raises further questions about the future of manufacturing jobs at the site.