The Canadian auto sector has been hit hard in recent months as the Trump Administration attempts to fulfill its stated goal of moving North American auto production into the United States at Canada’s expense. Tariffs on Canadian autos and the looming threat of further trade actions have damaged the auto sector in this country and raised pressure on the government to secure the sector for the long term.
Unsurprisingly, good news for the sector has been sparse.
But Monday was an exception.
Stellantis has begun hiring for a third shift at the Windsor Assembly plant, with the first positions being offered to workers laid off from the plant, and further positions being offered to individuals laid off from the idle Brampton Assembly plant, according to Unifor Local 444 President James Stewart:
“Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart, who represents workers at Windsor Assembly Plant, told the Star that the process officially began on Oct. 27. Neither the automaker nor the union would say how many workers have been hired so far.
Stewart described the process as “one of, if not the only, really good news story going on in the auto industry today.
“However, it’s hard to celebrate too much when you know what happened with Brampton. But we bargained for this third shift in 2023 … so, living up to their commitment from bargaining in Windsor is … good, and it is one of the truly good stories happening in the auto industry in Canada right now.”
There is a long way to go, and the Canadian auto sector and auto sector workers need ongoing support (shifting a portion of the sector to military production would be a smart move). That said, it is nice to see a bit of good news, and it’s a reminder that even amid a trade war and an uncertain global economy, Canada retains some resilience.
Spencer Fernando
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