Feeder plants for Windsor Assembly could face potential layoffs as an aftermath of tariffs
Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart said that while between 3,000 and 3,500 workers will be directly impacted at Windsor Assembly, more than 1,250 employees at the five main feeder plants for Windsor Assembly can also face layoffs now.
Stewart said while assembly plant workers get Employment Insurance (EI) benefits around 65 or 70 per cent of their wages, the feeder workers "don't have any of that" with EI around 40 to 50 per cent of wages.
"Most will have a hard time getting through this," he said.
Emile Nabbout, president at Unifor Local 195, which also represents workers at the feeder plants, said the tariffs are going to create a "problem in the community."
"It's concerning, the feeder plants we represent … members are all nervous of what's happening. Every time the assembly plant is shut down, notice of layoff will go to our members here as well," he said.
EI reform needed: Unifor Local 195
Around 600 members at the feeder plants can be impacted, Nabbout said.
"We are in the middle of the election. We want all those political parties to make a commitment to stand and fight along the worker and the union to have a safety net and protection to the worker when they face those uncertainties," he said.
"Definitely unemployment insurance is one of the avenues when there is a quick and unpredicted layoff, then we would like the government to increase the benefit."
Nabbout said it is "not a reliable income" when there is an interruption to work and asks the incoming government to eliminate the waiting period and implement comprehensive EI reform.
"It's very crucial in this election that we as workers, stand up and vote for a candidate who supports the reform for EI and enhances the complete labour issues that impact our worker every single time there is an interruption."
Nabbout said amidst all the tariff layoffs and uncertainties, EI reform is an important issue.
He said the weekly earnings need to increase to reflect inflation.
Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin said the company is "temporarily pausing production" starting Monday, with operations set to resume the week of April 21.
"Stellantis continues to assess the effects of the recently announced U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles and will continue to engage with the U.S. administration on these policy changes," she said in an emailed statement to CBC News.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
19 hours ago
- CBC
Stellantis lays off 'small number' of workers in Windsor as company cuts back on EV muscle car
Stellantis is laying off workers at its assembly plant in Windsor, Ont., as the company shifts away from its electric muscle car. "A small number" of workers received layoff notices Friday, according to Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin. "The layoffs are based on seniority and are a result of regular volume adjustments at the plant," Gosselin said. The company would not confirm the number of impacted employees. The union representing the plant's workers did not respond to a request for comment. The news comes on the last day of work before the plant's regular summer shutdown. It also comes at a time of heightened anxiety for auto workers in Canada, especially those in Windsor, where the economy relies heavily on the industry. Workers optimistic Employees at the Windsor assembly plant have faced temporary layoffs in recent months as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada and levies on the auto sector — though carve-outs for products that comply with CUSMA, the countries' existing trade deal, have softened the blow. The handful of workers who spoke to CBC Friday outside the Windsor assembly plant said they expect workers to be back on the job before long. "Could be a couple weeks," Emanuele Caruana said. "Right now things aren't looking too good, but they're going to be good soon." Dixon Bell described the layoffs as "not good" but said he too believed workers would be brought back eventually. Dave Lumley isn't worried at all, he said, and predicted the workers would be back on the job before Christmas. "It's just temporary," he said. "It's just a small amount. That happens a lot. It comes and goes. It's only 100 people." Lumley attributed the layoffs to changes in Dodge Charger production at the plant. "We have a battery area, and … we're not building batteries," he said. "Everybody wants gas, so they're trying to transition. That's mainly what it is." In May, Stellantis announced that it was postponing production of the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, the base model of the first-of-their-kind electrified muscle cars, just a year after introducing them with great fanfare. The global automaker has blamed U.S. tariffs for the decision, but the move also followed weak sales amid a dampening EV market. Workers at the Windsor plant assemble both the Chargers and the company's minivan offerings, including the Chrysler Pacifica. Last week, Stellantis unveiled the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, equipped with an inline-six twin turbo engine, after months of pleading from gear heads to bring back gas-powered versions of the previously popular muscle cars.
CBC
20 hours ago
- CBC
Stellantis lays off 'small number' of workers from Windsor Assembly Plant
Stellantis said Friday it has laid off a small number of workers at the Windsor Assembly Plant. It comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and resulting uncertainty for Canadian autoworkers — but as the CBC's Emma Loop reports, some workers say they're not worried.
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Cision Canada
Unifor celebrates long-awaited confirmation that Alstom Thunder Bay workers will build new TTC subway trains
THUNDER BAY, ON, Aug. 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is very pleased to see that all three levels of government have confirmed that Toronto Transit Commission subway trains will be manufactured at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay, securing jobs for workers represented by Unifor Local 1075. "This is a great victory. Unifor fought long and hard to get the federal, provincial and municipal governments to get on board and support a Made-in-Canada solution," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "We must use our Canadian procurement dollars to support Canadian workers and Canadian-made products, especially given the current trade war." "This decision to formally award this contract to Alstom speaks volumes with respect to how we must support Canadian workers, local industries, economies and communities. We need to see more of this if we are to build a more resilient Canadian economy." In a joint media release today, the governments noted that "in the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, this decision will support Canadian and Ontario workers with good manufacturing jobs and ensure reliable trains for Toronto transit riders." The Alstom sole-source construction contract means Unifor members will build 70 six-car trains – 55 of those to replace aging infrastructure on Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) and 15 to be used for the Yonge North and Scarborough Extensions. "This is the right move to bolster Canada's economy by creating sustainable, good-paying jobs right here in Ontario," said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. In January, Ontario committed to spend nearly $500 million to refurbish 181 GO Transit bi-level rail coaches, which is expected to support hundreds of jobs for at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay. "We are excited and ready to build the subways of the future," said Unifor Local 1075 President Justin Roberts. "Reliable, sturdy and resilient – the way today's announcement has contributed to the working lives of our members." Governments in Canada will spend tens of billions of dollars on transit vehicles in the coming years. In a sector valued at $2.9 billion GDP in recent years, leveraging this procurement to maximize Canadian content means procuring trusted, reliable vehicles that support Canadian jobs.
