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BREAKING: Stellantis Is Cutting The Second-Shift At Its Windsor Assembly Plant In 2022!

Could Mean The Loss Of 1,800 Jobs...

Robert S. Miller October 16, 2021

Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario. (Stellantis).

Stellantis announced late Friday afternoon to Unifor Local 444, the Canadian labor union representing the Windsor Assembly Plant (WAP) that it will be moving to a one-shift operation starting on Sunday, April 17th, 2022. The news was a shocker to the union and workers at the plant, as it could mean a loss of around 1,800 jobs.

2021 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD rolling off the Windsor Assembly Plant line. (Chrysler).

Stellantis has claimed that the cuts are based on the ongoing pandemic and the global semiconductor chip shortage, which has forced the plant to shut down several times over the year. That includes over a month-long shutdown, as the company struggled to secure enough chips and moved their supply to plants launching new Jeep® SUVs.

“The global automotive industry continues to face significant headwinds such as the persisting semiconductor shortage and the extended effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Stellantis released in an official statement. “In response to these factors, Stellantis will adjust production operations at its WAP in Canada. Beginning in the spring of 2022, WAP will transition to a one-shift operation.”

A Chrysler Pacifica enters the pre-treatment bath during the initial phase of the painting process at the Windsor Assembly Plant. (Chrysler).

According to Stellantis, the company does not plan to back away from a $1.3 to $1.5 billion CAD commitment it made during Unifor contract negotiations (2020 Collective Agreement) last year. The commitment called for an additional future plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) to be manufactured at the WAP facility, which is expected to launch in 2024. The plan called for the creation of 2,000 jobs.

“The company reaffirms its WAP investment commitment outlined in the 2020 Collective Agreement of up to $1.5 billion CAD,” Stellantis said in its statement.

2021 Chrysler Grand Caravan SXT in front of the Windsor Assembly Plant. (Chrysler Canada).

With a staff of 4,398 (4,213 hourly; 185 salaried) on two shifts, the WAP facility is the biggest employer in the city of Windsor.

“We will be meeting with the company in the coming days to explore ALL other options; however official notice has been given,” Local 444 said on its official Facebook page. “The company reiterated their commitment to their bargained investment and the three-shift operation in the future. We will be getting more specifics over the course of the weekend and the upcoming days.”

2021 Chrysler Grand Caravan SXT in front of the Windsor Assembly Plant. (Chrysler).

Currently, the WAP manufacturers the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Voyager, and Chrysler Grand Caravan for the 2021 model year. All three are based on the same platform and share most of their components. The plant eliminated around 1,500 jobs, after the announcement that the last generation Dodge Grand Caravan would end production.

Chrysler also announced that its entry-level Voyager minivan for the U.S. would only be available as a fleet option going into the 2022 model year.