'An unjustified attack on the auto industry:' Unifor Local 444 president responds to U.S. tariffs

The president of Windsor's largest auto union is responding to news of new U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made autos heading stateside.

James Stewart of Unifor Local 444 spoke with CBC's Amy Dodge on Windsor Morning Friday, calling the tariffs "an unjustified attack on the auto industry here in Canada."

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday imposing a 25 per cent tariff on finished vehicles imported into the U.S.

The tariffs go in effect April 2.

Hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs are tied to the auto sector.

It's Canada's largest manufacturing industry and the country's second largest export to the US, after oil.

And at the heart of it all is Windsor, the automotive capital of Canada.

What's your reaction to President Trump actually moving forward with these tariffs?

You know, the reaction hasn't changed. The fact is, it's an unjustified attack on the auto industry here in Canada. We are not a jurisdiction that has stolen jobs from the United States in any shape, way or form.

The facts are, we have lost jobs just like the United States has to lower paying jurisdictions, to jurisdictions that don't offer the same types of healthcare benefits, the same health and safety regulations. We've seen the same issues. And this really is an unjust attack, and I think it's going to affect the American worker in the auto industry, and it's going to affect the Canadian worker in the industry, both in negative ways. It's going to be very tough time if this comes to fruit.

Yeah, can you share some stories or concerns you've been hearing from your members?

Well, all of our members are concerned. … Right now, it's probably a perfect balance. The amount of cars we sell to the States is the same amount that we buy from the United States across Canada. And our workers know that. So they know that, you know, without the sales in the States, and if tariffs go into play, they know their jobs are at risk. They know the plants are at risk. They know it could happen fast.

What about their mental health?

Well, that's severe when you … don't know what the future holds. There's this cloud hanging over you that you can't control. … There's nothing they can do but sit back and watch and hope for the best and hope that there's a way, a path, to be found through this.