Stellantis warns Unifor blockade could halt operations at Windsor factory

Stellantis is warning that a union blockade atits Windsor Assembly Plant will soon lead to a shutdown of operations.

"It is unfortunate Unifor is choosing to use this inappropriate tactic of blockading our property, even though Stellantis is not involved in the dispute, and knowing that its effect will soon result in our Windsor operations being shut down,"LouAnnGosselin, spokesperson for Stellantis,said in a newsrelease Monday.

The auto company, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, says workers won't get paid for anytime the factory is shut down.

In a letter posted to Facebook, Unifor Local 444 said it will "grieve this, up to [and] including arbitration, as none of our FCA members have taken part in the most recent picket and no gate of the WAP, where our FCAmembers enter and exit, has been picketed."

The union said it has only preventedthird party workers from entering and doing the work their members should be doing.

But Stellantis said in a statement that "it is imperativethat Unifor's actions cease immediately so that our Windsor employees, suppliers and operations are not negatively impacted."

Unifor Local 444 set up a blockade at an entrance to the plant earlier this month, arising from a dispute involving a contractor at the facility, Motipark.

The union wantsworkers from the contractorAuto Warehousing Company (AWC), a group that Unifor represents,to be rehired.

The workers in question were responsible for drivingthe newly built minivans away from the factoryahead of shipment.

The contract for the service was taken over by Motipark, a subsidiary of the Essex Terminal Railway Company, on Jan. 1, after a bidding process last year, putting the Unifor members out of work.

The Motipark workers are represented by the Teamsters union,but Uniforhas arguedit should have had succession rights.

Uniforhasfiled an application under the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

FCA had agreed to let AWC workers return to work temporarily until the dispute was settled at the labour board, but lastFriday, FCA sent workers home.

Gosselinsaid Friday thatFCA was notified by AWC management that Thursday would be its last day, and that AWC "confirmed that they did not instruct their employees to report to work [Friday] morning."

UniforLocal 444's secretary-treasurer, James Stewart, told CBC News Friday that they will continue with the blockade "until we get it resolved."

CBC News has reached out to Unifor, but has yet to hear back.