Auto parts supplier’s 100-plus workers in Beaverton, Ontario vote to join union

More than 100 employees at an independent auto parts supplier in Beaverton are now union members after signing on with Unifor last week.

Workers at Flex-N-Gate Seeburn voted to join the union after a launching a campaign in June.

“We’re seeing more and more auto parts workers who want the benefits, resources, and protection unionization provides,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne, who called the vote at Flex-N-Gate the “latest example.”

The successful vote to unionize at Flex-N-Gate Seeburn marks the fourth auto parts plant in Ontario to join Unifor since 2023. Voting was held August 21-22. Unifor also represents Local 195 members at the Flex-N-Gate plant in Windsor.

The union previously organized workers at auto parts plants in London (hot stamping facility Sedecia), Windsor (seatbelt manufacturer TRQSS) and Tottenham (Tier 1 parts manufacturer F & P), adding more than 1,600 members to the union’s membership. Unifor already represents approximately 17,000 auto parts workers in the sector at more than 100 facilities across Canada.

Workers at Flex-N-Gate Seeburn primarily manufacture door components for automakers. Roles at the plant include general labourers, shipping and receiving personnel, material handlers, and press operators, as well as skilled trades such as machinists, tool and die makers, millwrights, and electricians.

The plant’s workers were facing increasing pressures, Payne said, around wages failing to keep pace with inflation, insufficient retirement benefits, and an overall lack of a voice to raise their concerns with management.

Workers cited long hours and inadequate compensation as key reasons for seeking union representation as well as growing frustration with the inability to address health and safety concerns, unmanageable workloads and “disrespect” from supervisors and managers.

“Every auto parts worker deserves fair wages, a safe workplace, and respect on the job,” added Payne, calling the vote an “incredible” victory. “The workers at Flex-N-Gate Seeburn are making their voices heard, and Unifor is proud to stand with them.”