Good news for Canadian auto workers
After reaching a deal with Ford, which includes investments in the company’s existing plants, the Canadian auto workers’ union—Unifor—has apparently struck a deal with Fiat Chrysler.
While Fiat Chrysler has stood by its Canadian plants, investing heavily in the Windsor minivan facility and more lightly in the Brampton large-car assembly plant, there were some questions about the future. Two crossovers long expected to show up at Windsor have failed to arrive; minivan sales are falling; and the large cars are rumored to be delayed, with their potential market reputedly contracting year by year. In addition to that, the Cherokee plant is running below capacity and the Compass plant in Mexico is likely underused as well. Meanwhile, it seems hard to believe that the Jefferson and Mack plants, sitting side-by-side, will be used solely for making Grand Cherokees (even in two lengths) and Durangos.
That makes the news today quite good for Canadians, though perhaps less bright and cheery for some UAW folk.
Clark Westfield grew up fixing up and driving past-their-prime American cars, including various GM and Mopar V8s. He has ghostwritten auto news for the last few years, and lives in Farmingdale, New York.