Windsor, Ont. auto workers caught in the crossfire of ever-changing trade war

Despite a Wednesday announcement pausing tariffs on some nations from the U.S., there still could be changes at Windsor Assembly Plant. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Mar

Brett Blake thought he’d finally found stability when he was hired at Stellantis last August.

But less than a year in, the 28-year-old assembly line worker is off the job, caught in the middle of a global trade fight that’s far beyond his control — and unsure what comes next.

“It’s disappointing, for sure,” he said.

“It’s one of those things where I’m trying to teach myself how to be grateful for what I do have, rather than focus on all the negative energy. There’s definitely a negative aura going on right now.”

The parking lot at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant remains uncharacteristically empty after the company halted production on April 6, citing tariff uncertainty.

Days later, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on American vehicles took effect, though federal officials have clarified those tariffs target vehicles not covered by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.

The White House confirmed to CTV News on Wednesday that Canada is exempt from the 10 per cent baseline tariffs the U.S. is applying to dozens of other countries.

Canadian-made vehicles are also temporarily exempt from a broader U.S. tariff on foreign automobiles, though several other levies remain in place.

The back-and-forth is confusing, fast-moving, and deeply unsettling for workers such as Blake. He said it’s his first time navigating the threat of a layoff.

“You’re just doing your best every day and something like this happens. It’s going to rock your boat a little bit,” said Blake.

Speaking on AM800’s The Shift with Patty Handysides on Tuesday, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Anita Anand said Stellantis has indicated its intention to resume production in Windsor on April 21.

“That was very good news for us to hear,” she said.

But Unifor Local 444 President James Stewart said the company has not confirmed that date directly to the union.

“They also said they’re going to continue assessing the effect of tariffs and make a decision after those two weeks — once they’ve finalized their assessment,” he said.

He added Stellantis has also flagged the possibility of changes to production schedules going forward.

“What does that mean? We don’t know. Could it mean more downtime in the future? Could it mean rotating shifts? These are the things we just don’t know,” the local union president said.

For many, the fear isn’t just about this pause. It’s about what follows.

Stewart said members are less concerned about the two-week break and more worried about how the larger trade war will affect their long-term job security.

“We need an industry that’s viable. We need a commitment from the companies that build here that they’re going to stay here. They shouldn’t be closing shifts,” added Stewart.

As for Blake, all he wants is to get back to work.

“A little two-week break is nice and relaxing. But it’s not paying the bills.”