Latest news with #Nabbout
CBC
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Union urges connection with auto industry for new MPs, as Windsor-Essex gets swept blue
Windsor-Essex has been swept blue, with five Conservative MPs elected to represent the region. A local auto union president says the automotive industry still needs a seat at the table, and he'll be advocating to ensure the region's new MPs carry the sector's voice to Ottawa. "If you don't have a seat at the government table, yes, it can put our community at some disadvantage," said Emile Nabbout. He represents Unifor Local 195, which has workers at local auto feeder plants. . Nabbout, who called the election results "disappointing," praised the NDP's Brian Masse and his success as the region's voice in the opposition in Ottawa. Masse lost his seat to the Conservative's Harb Gill on Monday night. Nabbout says it's a critical time for the region given the U.S. trade war and automotive tariffs. "My message to the elected Conservative MPs in our area, is to continue connecting with the community and working with labour leaders to protect the jobs and defend Canadian sovereignty and be supportive to the Prime Minister," he said. "Sometimes we may have a dispute, but we have to support. This is a big fight that we've been facing with the challenger from across the border and unity is needed." It's a sentiment echoed by Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart, who says Canada needs to continue its fight against auto tariffs now the election is over. For Jamey Essex, professor of political science at the University of Windsor, Kathy Borrelli flipping Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore for Conservatives and ousting Liberal incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk was "a bit of surprise." Essex said now, the newly elected Conservative MPs will "have to switch from campaign mode to governing mode." "They are still fairly important here: the unions, the auto sector, and they're going to want a seat at the table," he said. Essex said Conservative MPs will also have to work to get Windsor's issues heard by the Carney government. "They'll have to listen to these concerns because this is going to be one of the places most impacted by the tariffs, even though Trump [Tuesday] said he's going to start walking back some of the auto sector tariffs but they're not going away," he said. "So [Conservative MPs] are going to have to work with the unions, the automakers, local communities to figure out how you can best represent them, as part of the official opposition," he said. "It's something that the federal government will also have to pay attention to, unless they want this place to be completely hollowed out because that is one potential outcome of the long term tariff structure that's been put in place..." "It's not something that's going to be easy to adjust to and could bring a lot of pain."
CBC
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Feeder plants for Windsor Assembly could face potential layoffs as an aftermath of tariffs
Automaker Stellantis has confirmed it's shutting down its assembly plant in Windsor, Ont., for two weeks, largely because of U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles, and an aftermath of that would be potential layoffs at feeder plants. 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.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Feeder plants for Windsor Assembly could face potential layoffs as an aftermath of tariffs
Automaker Stellantis has confirmed it's shutting down its assembly plant in Windsor, Ont., for two weeks, largely because of U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles, and an aftermath of that would be potential layoffs at feeder plants. 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. Unifor Local 444 President James Stewart says for every Windsor Assembly plant worker, it results in around eight workers being impacted at the feeder plants that send the Assembly Plant many parts. (Katerina Georgieva/CBC) 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." Emile Nabbout is the president of Unifor Local 195 and says EI reform is needed in these times of uncertainty to protect workers at feeder plants. (Kathleen Saylors/CBC) 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.
