Family of 18 Moves to Windsor for Auto Jobs

Joseph Jacildo worked at a vehicle assembly plant in Brampton, Ont., for 28 years.

It became a family affair when his wife, three daughters, and their partners joined him on the assembly line.

Now, all eight autoworkers along with Jacildo’s 10 grandchildren have moved 350 kilometers southwest to Windsor to keep their jobs assembling vehicles for Stellantis.

“We are the first batch of transfers from Brampton,” he said. “It’s hard to start from the beginning … It’s a new city, new environment, new plant.”

The auto giant’s Brampton facility hasn’t produced any cars in over two years, leaving the Jacildos and 3,000 other laid-off workers in uncertainty. 

This was initially labeled a “temporary pause” meant for retooling to eventually produce new gas and electric vehicles, but plans were later stalled. The company hasn’t shared any future intentions for that site and is currently in conflict with the federal government over hundreds of millions in taxpayer money it received recently.

Because of this situation, the Jacildos agreed to transfer reluctantly to Stellantis’s Windsor Assembly Plant.

Joseph Jacildo, second from left, is seen in 1998 with other family members at the Brampton Assembly Plant. His daughter Jasmine Jacildo is on the far right as a child (being held by a family member whose face is blurred because they didn’t want their image used). Joseph, Jasmine and other loved ones have relocated to Windsor to keep working in the auto industry as the Brampton facility is shut. (Submitted by Jasmine Jacildo)

Joseph spoke with CBC while sitting next to his daughter Jasmine inside her two-bedroom rental apartment in Windsor.

Jasmine, her husband and their young twin daughters along with two cats were still unpacking boxes.

“We bought a house in Brampton in December of 2024 right beside the Brampton plant,” she said. “It was kind of heartbreaking. We thought that was going to be our forever home.

“And now we ended up having to rent that out and then rent this place.. just to kind of chase a job,” she explained. “It was a very, very difficult decision.”

Jasmine Jacildo’s twins, Lilah and Juliette, have moved with their parents to Windsor after the couple took new jobs at the Stellantis plant in the southwestern Ontario city. (Submitted by Jasmine Jacildo)

She believes moving to Windsor was necessary for safety reasons.

Brampton is “where we all started. But if that were to go away, you have no clue what is going to happen with the auto industry in Canada. And then we would have no job,” Jasmine said.

WATCH | Family of autoworkers in 1st batch of transplanted Stellantis workers:

Brampton family with 8 autoworkers makes tough choice to come to WindsorCBC’s Acton Clarkin speaks with members of a family who usedto work atthe Brampton Assembly Plantand are now goingto be joiningthenew thirdshiftat Windsor Assembly. They sayitwasadifficultdecision, butthey’llbe togetherin Windsor-all18of them, includingeight Stellantis employees.

A Bright Side for Family

The Jacildos joined Stellantis as partof its plansto addathirdshiftatits Windsorfacility. As of last month, Sstellantis announcedthatmore than1,000newworkerswere hired, andaround240transfersfrom Brampton came on board.

Both Josephand Jasmine agree Unifor, the unionrepresentingtheworkers, hassupported Bramptonplantworkersduringindustrychangesby securinga contractforlaid-offworkerstoreceive70percentoftheirsalaryplusbenefitsformonthsafterproductionhaltedthere.

“They really did agood job protectingus. It’s nottheir decision. It’s Stellantis,”said Joseph.

But Jasminefeels Uniforcould’ve done moretohelp keepjobsin Brampton.

“There’snothingwecanreallydo. We’rejustlineworkers. Wehope thattheunionwouldfight backona littlebitmore. But Ithink theywerealsotrustingthecompanyinawaywhere theywouldmakeagooddecision.”Jasmineand Joseph Jacildoshowoffmatching Built-in-Brampton T-shirtsfeaturinga Dodge Chargermodelthat theyusedtoassembleatthe Bramptonplant. (Ken Amlin/)

While adjustingto theirnew livesin Windsor, thefamilyistryingtokeepthingsin perspective.

“We werejustfortunate thatourfamily, weallworktogether. Sowe wereabletomoveandtransitiontogether. Itsstillhardforus, butitdefinitelyisnotashardforsomepeoplewhosewives orhusbandsworkinjobsinthe GTA[Greater Toronto Area], so theyhavetoleavethem there,”said Jasmine.

As Josephconsidersretiringinacoupleofyears , hepointsoutasilver lining: thenewcolleaguesinthe Windsorfactoryare welcomingall eight Jacidotransplantswithopenarms.

“And that’stheonlythingthat’smakingmeworkmore, because thesepeopleareverygood.”

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