UPDATE: Windsor Assembly third shift safe: Stellantis officials

Stellantis officials say the third shift at Windsor Assembly Plant is safe. CTV Windsor’s Michelle Maluske reports.

Stellantis North America has announced a $13 billion investment in the United States.

The company announced late Tuesday it would be making “the largest” investment in the companies history in the U.S.

Wednesday, Stellantis Canada officials say the news doesn’t change their plans for Windsor.

“We are adding a third shift to the Windsor Assembly Plant to support increased demand of all versions of the Chrysler Pacifica and the new SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack and R/T models,” Stellantis wrote CTV News in a statement.

“Canada is very important to us.”

The American investment will, however, shift production of the Jeep Compass out of Brampton Assembly to Illinois.

“Our members got an automated message into the evening,” Unifor National President Lana Payne told CP24 News Wednesday morning. “We learned of this final decision yesterday at 4:30 p.m.”

“In the current environment nothings’ really a surprise,” Sam Fiorani, of AutoForecast Solutions told CTV News Windsor Wednesday.

“We expect investments in the U.S. to be announced to make the current administration happy and this one definitely will do that.”

Fiorani however said Windsor workers need not be worried, for now.

“The product hasn’t changed in Windsor. We’re expecting the (Dodge) Charger to increase in volume as the gas-powered versions hit the market. And the minivan is still continuing to do well ,” Fiorani said. “Windsor itself seems to be on an even keel at the moment.”

Here is the entire statement from Stellantis about its Canadian commitments.

“As part of this announcement, we will move one model from Canada to the U.S. We have been in Canada for over 100-years, and we are investing. We are adding a third shift to the Windsor Assembly Plant to support increased demand of all versions of the Chrysler Pacifica and the new SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack and R/T models. Canada is very important to us. We have plans for Brampton and will share them upon further discussions with the Canadian government.”

On Thursday, Unifor National President Lana Payne commented on the removal of the Brampton Assembly Plant:

“In 2023 bargaining with Unifor, Stellantis’ product and investment commitment plan including restoring three-shift operations at both the Windsor and Brampton Assembly Plants.

“The company’s Sept. 9 announcement to add a third shift in Windsor fulfills only part of the negotiated plan - and has nothing to do with its Oct. 14 declaration that Stellantis intends to break its commitment to Brampton workers, the union, and the Ontario and federal governments by moving Brampton’s designated product to the U.S.

“Even with three shifts in Windsor, Stellantis has delivered only half of its product and investment commitment plan. Offering already expected jobs in Windsor while eliminating Brampton jobs does not balance the scales - it still amounts to a net loss for Canadian autoworkers.”