The collective bargaining between Stellantis and the union representing more than 6,000 workers at the Windsor Assembly plant is scheduled to commence on Tuesday. Stellantis is the final of the Big 3 automakers to engage in negotiations with Unifor.

According to a social media video statement by Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart, negotiations will officially start at 11 a.m. ET. The current collective agreement is set to expire at midnight on Sept. 20, with negotiators aiming to reach an agreement sooner, before a two-week shutdown of the plant at the end of the month.

James Stewart mentioned that they plan to work through Labour Day without returning home, striving to achieve an internal deadline of Sept. 11. These discussions occur amidst challenges in Windsor’s automotive sector due to substantial U.S. tariffs on exported vehicles and parts.

Unifor members recently approved a new deal with General Motors, including wage increases, a productivity bonus, and a cost-of-living allowance. A similar agreement was ratified by union members at Ford in July, encompassing wage hikes, a cost-of-living allowance renewal, and investments in Canadian manufacturing.

Central to the union’s objectives with Stellantis is ensuring future production allocations for both the Windsor Assembly plant and the dormant Brampton plant. Unifor conveyed that around 2,200 Brampton workers are currently laid off, with Stellantis contemplating selling the plant, which Unifor national president Lana Payne described as detrimental to the Canadian automotive industry.

James Stewart highlighted the challenges posed by trade pressures from the Trump administration in his video, emphasizing the critical nature of the negotiations. Despite the difficulties, Stewart expressed their commitment to navigating through the complexities of the current situation.