Latest news with #LanaPayne
CTV News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Stellantis' financial losses less concerning for ‘stable' Windsor Assembly Plant, analyst says
Windsor Assembly Plant seen in Windsor, Ont. on April 3, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) A large financial blow to Stellantis is not expected to cause major changes at the Windsor Assembly Plant, according to an automotive analyst. On Monday, the auto giant reported preliminary estimates showing a 2.3 billion Euros (US$2.68 billion) net loss through the first half of 2025. 'It won't help them that's for sure, and Stellantis is already in a decent spot of trouble,' said David Kennedy, the Toronto Bureau Chief for Automotive News Canada. At the heart of the automaker's losses are U.S. tariffs and other charges. It's estimated tariffs will create an added cost of about 300 million euros tacked on to its bottom line. Compared to the Brampton Assembly Plant, where Stellantis has hit pause on $1.3 billion retooling plans, Kennedy noted production is more 'stable' in Windsor. 'We've seen announcements of a couple-week shutdowns at a time since tariffs were announced, but Windsor is a little bit more insulated, simply based on the fact that they're already up and running, they're not retooling,' Kennedy explained. Kennedy added the company still has plans in Windsor for 'reliable' minivan production as well as the Daytona. 'Basically, the Windsor plant is on firmer footing than Brampton,' Kennedy said. In a statement to CTV News, Lana Payne, Unifor's national president, said the financial findings add to 'mounting uncertainty' for the auto sector. 'For Unifor members in Canada, particularly at the Brampton and Windsor Assembly Plants, today's news only adds to mounting uncertainty,' Payne said. 'This is partly the company's own doing but also reflective of the damaged economic conditions for automakers that's entirely Donald Trump's fault.' Payne went on to add that any level of permanent tariffs will 'devastate' the auto industry. Stellantis is set to release its final results for the first half of the year on July 29.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NextStar Energy workers ratify their 1st collective agreement
Workers at Canada's first large-scale electric vehicle (EV) battery cell manufacturing facility have voted in favour of their first collective agreement. In a news release issued Sunday afternoon, Unifor said its members at NextStar Energy have voted 88 per cent in favour of ratifying their first collective agreement, "marking a historic milestone for workers" at the southwestern Ontario plant. "Bargaining a first collective agreement is never easy, and this one took place in an exceptionally difficult economic and political climate," Unifor national president Lana Payne said in the news release. "The work of our bargaining committee at NextStar Energy ensures that as the electric vehicle sector grows, good union jobs grow with it." The one-year agreement includes a five per cent wage increase and gains on wages, wage progression, pensions, short- and long-term disability programs, and workplace health and safety. It also certifies Unifor and Local 444 as the exclusive bargaining agent for employees at the Windsor facility. "By ratifying this collective agreement, our members have secured a voice at work and a seat at the table as this industry takes shape in Canada. We're ready to build the future — together," Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart said in a news release. Unifor said the agreement's one-year term positions workers at NextStar Energy to return to the bargaining table in 2026, aligning closely with the next round of Unifor negotiations with Detroit Three automakers.
CBC
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CBC
NextStar Energy workers ratify their 1st collective agreement
Workers at Canada's first large-scale electric vehicle (EV) battery cell manufacturing facility have voted in favour of their first collective agreement. In a news release issued Sunday afternoon, Unifor said its members at NextStar Energy have voted 88 per cent in favour of ratifying their first collective agreement, "marking a historic milestone for workers" at the southwestern Ontario plant. "Bargaining a first collective agreement is never easy, and this one took place in an exceptionally difficult economic and political climate," Unifor national president Lana Payne said in the news release. "The work of our bargaining committee at NextStar Energy ensures that as the electric vehicle sector grows, good union jobs grow with it." The one-year agreement includes a five per cent wage increase and gains on wages, wage progression, pensions, short- and long-term disability programs, and workplace health and safety. It also certifies Unifor and Local 444 as the exclusive bargaining agent for employees at the Windsor facility. "By ratifying this collective agreement, our members have secured a voice at work and a seat at the table as this industry takes shape in Canada. We're ready to build the future — together," Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart said in a news release. Unifor said the agreement's one-year term positions workers at NextStar Energy to return to the bargaining table in 2026, aligning closely with the next round of Unifor negotiations with Detroit Three automakers.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NextStar Energy workers ratify historic first collective agreement
WINDSOR, ON, July 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor members at NextStar Energy have voted 88% in favour of ratifying their first collective agreement, marking a historic milestone for workers at Canada's first large-scale electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing facility. "Bargaining a first collective agreement is never easy, and this one took place in an exceptionally difficult economic and political climate," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "The work of our bargaining committee at NextStar Energy ensures that as the electric vehicle sector grows, good union jobs grow with it." The one-year agreement includes a 5% wage increase, certifies Unifor and Local 444 as the exclusive bargaining agent for employees at the facility, and delivers important gains on wages, wage progression, pensions, short and long term disability programs, and workplace health and safety, among other improvements. "This is a proud day for our union and for every worker who believed that organizing and standing together would make a difference," said Unifor Local 444 President James Stewart. "By ratifying this collective agreement, our members have secured a voice at work and a seat at the table as this industry takes shape in Canada. We're ready to build the future—together." The one-year term of the agreement positions workers at NextStar Energy to return to the bargaining table in 2026, aligning closely with the next round of Unifor negotiations with Detroit Three automakers. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. SOURCE Unifor View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Cision Canada
6 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Unifor concerned about increase in marine vessel inspection refusals
HALIFAX, NS, July 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is concerned by reports of International Transport Federation (ITF) Inspectors being refused access to ships in port in Halifax, Vancouver and in Montreal as part of their routine efforts to ensure minimum working and living conditions for the crew are being met. "As crew on transport ships, workers spend months at sea travelling from port to port where they are vulnerable to exploitation, mistreatment, and in some cases not being paid," said Unifor National President Lana Payne, who also sits on the Executive Board of the ITF. "Any ship captain who is upholding international standards would have no reason to refuse access to the ITF Inspector, so an increasing number of refusals is reason for concern." The International Transport Federation (ITF) Inspectorate is a network of 147 Inspectors and Contacts based in ports all over the world. Their job is to inspect ships calling in their ports to ensure the seafarers have decent pay, working conditions and living conditions on board. They conduct routine inspections and also visit ships on request of the crew. If necessary, they assist with actions to protect seafarers' rights as permitted by law. "When your job involves months of being in the most remote of locations and you are at the mercy of multi-national corporations flying flags of convenience in international waters, it's the ITF Inspectors that are your source of support and representation," said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. "If a ship comes to a Canadian port, they should expect us to care and respond to how workers aboard are being treated." The ITF has pointed to a Slovenian-based corporation, Lanibra, that has created its own organization that claims to represent seafarers and that, in its view, has authority over the vessel in place of the ITF. The ITF letter to the Slovenian government highlights this conflict of interest, saying: "This is a clear violation of ILO Convention 98, which guarantees workers the right to organise without interference from employers. It also breaches Slovenian national law, which requires unions to be genuinely independent. A trade union cannot claim to represent seafarers when it's run by those who profit from them." Unifor is encouraging its members to sign the ITF petition to have the Slovenian government investigate the sham organization and take immediate steps to uphold the law and de-register the Lanibra-led corporate 'union'. "Having an inspection refused worries me because I've spoken with so many seafarers who are being kept from going home by their employers, or who aren't being fed well or paid what they're due. So, I'm definitely concerned about the workers aboard those vessels and what their working conditions are like," said ITF Coordinator (Canada) Karl Risser. "Seafarers deserve to be respected and we're here to make sure that's happening." Sign the ITF petition here. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
