Titan Tool: Longest automotive dispute in city’s history

Unifor presidents visits Titan Tool workers who have been picketing for 100 days. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco reports.

One hundred days ago, Titan Tool workers were locked out.

“I was hoping not, but deep down inside I kind of figured this is where we were going to be. We were going to go for a long time,” said union representative Randy St. Pierre.

The lockout continues four months later as workers rallied Tuesday morning at the Howard Avenue plant followed by a rolling caravan through the streets of Windsor.

“This is the longest dispute now that we’ve had in the automotive industry in Windsor,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Ford’s 99-day strike in 1945 was the longest, until now.

Contract talks have failed, as Titan Tool has been locked out since Aug. 11, 2025.

“Look like they have different plan. We don’t know what is the plan, and they need to come clean and to not penalize the people who made wealth for them for many years,” said Emile Nabbout, president of Unifor Local 195.

“If Titan gets away with this, others will follow,” St. Pierre said at the rally which served as a reminder that the impasse is bigger than the 27 workers locked out. The group chanted “Protect Canadian jobs” before heading out in the caravan.

“Are they going to open it again?” Payne asked. “Are they committed to working and having this plant in Canada or are they just going to shift our jobs and our investment to the United States?”

Payne visited workers on Tuesday and called on the government to take action to protect Canada’s manufacturing sector.

“They can penalize companies. They can do all sorts of things to make sure that companies like Titan Tool do not get away with these kinds of actions and they’re going to have to get creative here. This is a time like no other,” Payne said.

Residents continued to show support honking as they drove by on the 100th day.

“When they drive by and beep their horns at us it uplifts us every day, so we want to thank the community for that,” St. Pierre said.