Windsor Assembly Returning To Work — But For How Long?

Workers at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant will return to work starting tomorrow, Monday, April 21, after a two-week shutdown that shook the local auto industry. But with no long-term schedule in place, the big question is—for how long?

Unifor Local 444 confirmed Friday on social media that both shifts at Windsor Assembly have been called back for the weeks of April 21 and April 28. Stellantis informed the union of the return-to-work plans but didn’t give any clarity on operations beyond those two weeks.

The temporary closure came after a major decision from U.S. President Donald Trump, who on April 2 imposed a 25% tariff on foreign-made vehicles and parts. That move immediately impacted cross-border production and supply chains, forcing Stellantis to idle Windsor Assembly.

The shutdown affected nearly 4,500 workers at the main plant, plus another 2,000 across local parts suppliers and feeder plants. Those five feeder facilities, which supply everything from interiors to drivetrain components, also had to shut down, impacting over 1,250 employees.

Stellantis produces several vehicles at Windsor Assembly, including the Chrysler Pacifica, Grand Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, and the Dodge Charger Daytona. All these models rely heavily on a steady parts flow from both Canada and the U.S., which was disrupted by the sudden tariff announcement.

The restart of Windsor Assembly means the local feeder plants are also firing back up to support production, bringing hundreds more employees back on the job. But again, it’s a short-term fix. Stellantis hasn’t made any announcements about what will happen after the end of April.

When it shut down Windsor, the company also halted operations at its Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico, which builds the Jeep® Compass, Jeep Wagoneer S, and Jeep Recon. That facility is expected to remain idle through the end of April, and there has been no update on when it might reopen.

Overall, the twin plant closures had ripple effects in the U.S., causing around 900 layoffs at five American parts suppliers that serve Windsor and Toluca.

While it’s good news that workers are returning to the line next week, this situation is still very fluid. A lot will depend on how long the tariffs remain in place and whether Stellantis finds a way to keep its North American production steady in the face of rising trade barriers.

For now, Windsor’s autoworkers will be back on the job — but they’re still waiting for real job security.