Stellantis is reportedly contemplating the potential closure and sale of the Brampton Assembly Plant, as revealed by a national union this week. Unifor president Lana Payne disclosed that Stellantis shared this information informally on Wednesday, but has not yet officially notified the union as required by their agreement. The company is obligated to provide at least one year’s notice to the union before a closure or sale. Payne mentioned that Stellantis intends to engage in talks with another entity regarding the potential sale of the plant, which has dismayed the union and its members deeply.
Stellantis issued a statement stating that they are gearing up for collective bargaining discussions and currently have no announcements to make. They emphasized their commitment to seeking a sustainable manufacturing solution for the Brampton Assembly facility.
The plant was slated for retooling for Jeep Compass production, a process that commenced in January 2024 but was halted in February 2025. Subsequently, in October 2025, Stellantis informed the union of its decision to relocate Jeep Compass production from Brampton to the U.S., putting the plant’s operations on hold indefinitely. Payne expressed concern over the loss of high-paying union jobs and emphasized that these jobs are irreplaceable.
Unifor plans to address this issue with Stellantis during upcoming contract negotiations. Payne underscored the union’s discontent with the situation and stressed that the workers in Brampton and across the country deserve better treatment.
Vito Beato, president of Unifor Local 1285, affirmed that the union will persist in fighting to safeguard the jobs at the Brampton facility, asserting that giving up on the workers is not an option. Beato emphasized a positive outlook for the plant’s future and expressed eagerness to explore opportunities for plant revival and vehicle production during bargaining discussions.
Unifor Local 1285, which represents around 2,200 members at the Brampton plant, stated that workers are currently receiving income security, covering 70% of their income while the plant remains idle.
Both the City of Brampton and the federal government have voiced support for the workers at the Brampton facility. The city has taken measures to safeguard automotive manufacturing at the site, while the federal government is actively engaging with Stellantis, Unifor, and the Ontario government to secure production, protect jobs, and encourage long-term investment in Canada.