Foreign workers issue reignites at Windsor's NextStar plant

Published Apr 27, 2024 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 4 minute read

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Canadian workers at the NextStar Energy EV Battery Plant in Windsor on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Trudeau was given an update tour of the 4.23-million-square-foot battery plant. He visited the Module Building where he saw a demonstration of EV battery module production. Photo courtesy of Stellantis. Photo by Stellantis

The issue of temporary foreign workers being used to build the NextStar Energy battery plant in Windsor has bubbled up again with the Canadian Building Trades Union requesting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intervene in the dispute and the federal Conservatives planning to raise the issue on Parliament Hill.

CBTU executive director Sean Strickland penned a letter to Trudeau earlier this month claiming an increasing number of temporary foreign workers were being used in Windsor. The federal Conservatives also announced Friday they plan to press the issue at the Government Operations’ Committee meeting this week.

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“We are writing to request your personal intervention to resolve the ongoing use of international workers in the construction of Stellantis and LG’s NextStar EV Battery Plant in Windsor, Ontario,” wrote Strickland in the letter obtained by the Star.

“Over the last several months Canada’s Building Trades Unions have diligently worked to secure an agreement to ensure Canadians are employed in the construction and installation phases of this project, through several months of fruitless meetings with Stellantis and LG.

“Our efforts have so far failed due to LG and Stellantis’ intransigence.”

Strickland claimed NextStar was using foreign workers at an increasing pace calling it “a slap in the face to Canadian workers.”

The NextStar battery plant construction site in Windsor is shown on Feb. 13, 2024. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

The CBTU requested Trudeau tell Stellantis and LG to end their use of sub-contractors who are employing international workers to displace Canadian workers on tasks, halt the flow of international workers to NextStar and require the companies to negotiate new labour agreements conditional on tax incentives.

Trudeau addressed Strickland’s letter Thursday at the announcement that Honda will invest $15 billion to build four EV production and battery supply chain plants in Ontario.

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“I know the CBTU put a statement on their worksite saying they’re working closely with NextStar and Stellantis to make sure there are good jobs for Canadians, as is part of the commitment that Stellantis and NextStar have made,” Trudeau said.

“We’ll continue to be there. And I’ll highlight: of the close to 2,000 workers on the construction in Windsor there’s only 72 of them that are international workers, because there’s a certain amount of specialized equipment that needs training so Canadians can actually be doing the installing, as well.”

In a company statement, NextStar officials pushed back on the CBTU claims. “Unfortunately, there is an inaccurate and negative portrayal of non-Canadian resident workers who are needed to temporarily support the industrialization of the battery plant prior to its launch,” NextStar said.

“At present, there are 1,975 workers on site who are readying the plant for launch. All of those workers are Canadian except for 72.

“These workers are hired temporarily by the suppliers to install proprietary equipment and are a requirement of warranty obligations.”

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The company emphasized that when both the module plant and cell production facility are fully optional, NextStar will employ 2,500 workers — all of whom will be Canadian residents.

NextStar said certain specialized foreign workers are needed currently for their experience and knowledge that is not available domestically.

“To ensure NextStar Energy’s success as Canada’s first large scale EV battery manufacturing plant, the Company must temporarily rely on the best know-how and experience, including global talent to educate, install, test, validate and deploy the latest state-of-the-art and most advanced technologies available,” NextStar said.

“This knowledge is imported, when necessary, and transferred to the local workforce to allow the plant to flourish and compete in a globally fierce environment.”

A bird’s eye view shows the NextStar battery plant construction site in Windsor on Tuesday Feb. 13, 2024. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

NextStar confirmed it intends to continue to meet regularly with the trade unions working in Windsor to ensure plans for the site are clear.

“There have been numerous face to face and/or virtual meetings with CBTU and local representatives to share information with respect to the workplan and timing,” NextStar said.

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“We are committed to continuous discussions on this important project with designated working group meetings at an agreed upon frequency to ensure we actively communicate and address issues.”

Windsor-Tecumseh Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk said federal government officials, including himself, have met with both sides throughout construction and have impressed upon NextStar the need to limit the number of temporary foreign workers.

“We want to maximize employment of Canadian workers,” said Kusmierczyk, who called the Conservative’s plan to raise the issue at committee an attempt to “create a circus and make political hay” out of a generational investment.

“We pushed to get a workers’ committee set up, composed of members from the company and the trade unions, to exchange info and address issues.

“The Koreans have been making batteries for 30 years and they’re teaching us in this nation. There is a need for people with that specialized knowledge.”

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Kusmierczyk added perspective is also needed about the number of foreign workers in a project of such enormous scale.

“There’s 2,000 people on the construction site now and there’s going to be 2,500 Canadians working in the plant when it’s done,” Kusmierczyk said. “Combined, that’s 4,500 workers and there’s 72 foreign workers.”

Dwaddell@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/windstarwaddell

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