Stellantis workers in Ontario who are represented by Unifor have voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike mandate as collective bargaining negotiations remain stalled.

Two days of voting were held on the weekend.

The workers are stationed at factories in Windsor, Toronto and the idled Brampton assembly plant.

Unifor has said any potential strike action remains its last resort.

“When you deliver a strike authorization vote north of 97 per cent across our Stellantis workplaces, you send a powerful message of unity and strength,” said James Stewart, Unifor Local 444 president, in a social media video released Monday morning.

“You have given us the tools to get this done.”

Company ‘committed’ to good-faith bargaining

The automaker responded to a request for comment from CBC News on Monday morning.

“Stellantis remains committed to bargaining in good faith and is prepared to continue discussions toward a negotiated agreement that recognizes the contributions of our employees while supporting the long-term competitiveness of our Canadian operations,” said spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin.

Unifor national president Lana Payne said members are united in their determination to reach a “fair agreement” with Stellantis “that protects jobs for Canadian autoworkers.”

More than 2,000 workers were laid off in Brampton in 2023. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)

The union says it is not in a legal strike position at this time as neither Stellantis nor Unifor has requested a No Board report, one of the steps necessary under labour law required for job action.

A key sticking point has been the uncertainty around the Brampton factory. Recently, Stellantis said it planned to sell the property to defence contractor Roshel.

More than 2,000 workers were laid off in Brampton in 2023, and the automaker later moved production of its Jeep Compass to Illinois.

Unifor has argued that closing and selling Brampton would threaten workers’ wages, pensions and benefits, and have broader consequences for Ontario’s automotive sector and supply chain.

Stellantis Canada president and CEO Trevor Longley earlier said the company considers Canada an important market and has invested more than $8 billion across its Canadian operations since 2022.

In Windsor, a third shift was restored in February.