Why Unifor‑Stellantis talks matter as U.S. tariff threats loom

Unifor and Stellantis began their latest round of collective‑bargaining talks on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to try to reach a new agreement by the September 11 deadline set for the negotiations.

The union says its main priority is job security after more than 2,000 workers were laid off when the Brampton assembly plant in Ontario was idled in 2023.

Stellantis has floated the idea of closing and selling the Brampton facility and has already moved Jeep Compass production to the United States – a step the union calls a breach of the current collective agreement.

At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that, starting January 1, he could raise tariffs on Canadian vehicles, parts and steel to 50 percent, a move that would dramatically raise the cost of exporting cars to the United States.

Because the tariff threat could make Canadian‑built cars far less competitive, the outcome of these talks will affect not only the jobs at Brampton but also the broader stability of Canada’s auto industry.

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