The pinnacle of Canada’s largest labor group on Monday was blunt in her evaluation of a robust union chief south of the border over his assist of U.S. President Donald Trump’s auto tariffs.
Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, stated United Auto Staff president Shawn Fain is “100 per cent” incorrect in his assist of Trump’s 25 per cent levies on auto imports.
“Shawn Fain is incorrect,” Bruske stated at a information convention in Windsor on Monday morning. “He is completely incorrect.”
Bruske’s feedback illustrate the sharp divide on tariffs between union leaders in Canada and the U.S., who share a long time of historical past and have extra generally labored in solidarity. Additionally they come as Fain continues to defend his determination to again Trump’s commerce conflict, arguing that tariffs will drive manufacturing corporations to maneuver jobs to the U.S.
However trade specialists and Canadian union leaders have repeatedly warned that tariffs on Canada and Mexico may destabilize – and even destroy – the North American auto sector, which is constructed upon a deeply built-in provide chain.
“We already know that 5 totally different U.S. vegetation have layoffs in the present day due to the imposition of tariffs and due to how built-in our economic system is,” Bruske stated, the busy Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit within the background.
“So no matter (Fain)’s making an attempt to realize when it comes to getting extra manufacturing again to the U.S., that is already impacting UAW members on the southern facet of the border as effectively,” she stated.
Stellantis, which builds the Pacifica minivans in Windsor, introduced final week that it will pause manufacturing on the plant for 2 weeks because of Trump’s tariffs, which took impact Thursday.
The corporate has additionally paused manufacturing at one in every of its factories in Mexico. These closures have led to short-term layoffs at 5 vegetation in Michigan and Indiana.
Bruske and different union leaders stated they have been in Windsor on Monday to point out solidarity with autoworkers and demand extra assist for these dealing with layoffs.
The CLC desires to see Canada’s employment insurance coverage system expanded and public procurement to assist unionized workplaces, amongst different issues. Bruske additionally known as on monetary establishments to guard staff from dropping their properties or vehicles.
“When staff face layoffs, we’re calling on banks and lenders to step up and assist staff,” Bruske stated. “And meaning at this essential time, no foreclosures, no repossessions, not now, not whereas staff on this nation are underneath assault.”
Her feedback about Fain got here after she stepped in to reply a reporter’s query for a Canadian UAW member who attended the press convention.
Invoice Pollock, president of UAW Native 251, represents staff in a spread of industries throughout southwestern Ontario, together with automotive suppliers. He was requested how he reconciled his solidarity with native staff with Fain’s assist of the tariffs.
“It isn’t for me to reconcile,” he stated. “However I do know that the tariffs enacted are — let me rephrase that. They are not after our jobs, they’re after honest commerce agreements, not after our jobs.”
Invoice Pollock, president of UAW Native 251, speaks at a CLC press convention on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Dalson Chen/CBC Windsor)
Earlier within the occasion, Pollock, a “proud member” of the UAW since 1970, stated he needed to “attempt to set the report straight” on the union’s place relating to tariffs.
“The UAW’s not in opposition to the employees in Canada. The UAW is in assist of the employees in Canada,” Pollock stated. “What we’re calling for is a good commerce framework that protects and uplifts working class staff throughout North America.”
The UAW didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Nevertheless, in an interview with NPR revealed Monday morning, Fain appeared to restrict his assist of tariffs to these on the automotive trade. The UAW chief known as Trump’s announcement final week of a variety of reciprocal tariffs “reckless.”
Trump’s beforehand introduced auto tariffs instantly utilized a 25 per cent levy on absolutely assembled car imports. Subsequent month, the identical tariff will apply to imported elements.
The administration has stated corporations importing underneath the Canada-United States-Mexico Settlement (CUSMA) will be capable to decrease their tariffs by certifying the U.S. content material of their merchandise, however the course of to take action stays unclear.
