The union representing employees at the soon-to-close Crown Royal bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario, has approved a final closure agreement with parent company Diageo. Unifor leadership states the deal, ratified by 89% of voting members, aims to secure the best possible outcome for workers facing the plant's shutdown in February 2026.
Closure Agreement Details and Worker Support
With the collective agreement expiring on December 3, 2024, union members voted on Monday to accept a negotiated settlement. The agreement provides enhanced severance packages that exceed the legal minimum required after the contract lapsed. According to Unifor Local 200 president John D’Agnolo, this includes a "substantial increase" on the standard two weeks of pay per year of seniority.
Approximately 160 workers are affected by the closure. They now have the choice to leave their positions immediately or remain until the plant ceases operations early next year. The union also secured a company-funded program to assist with education, retraining, and resume building for displaced employees.
A Devastating Blow for the Community
Unifor National President Lana Payne acknowledged that keeping the plant open was the ultimate goal. "We fought hard to keep the jobs here," Payne said in a news release. "This is not the outcome we wanted, but in the end we acted to secure the best possible outcome for our members."
D’Agnolo echoed the sentiment, telling The Canadian Press that members are "devastated." He emphasized the quality of the jobs being lost, noting, "They were hoping to retire there. These are good paying jobs with pensions."
Political Fallout and Future Hopes
The closure announcement in August 2024 sparked significant political reaction, most notably from Ontario Premier Doug Ford. At a September news conference, Ford dramatically poured out a bottle of Crown Royal and vowed that Diageo would "pay dearly" for the decision to move some bottling operations to the United States.
Looking forward, D’Agnolo expressed hope that the provincial government and the Town of Amherstburg will collaborate to attract a new employer to the facility. "We’re not giving up on these workers or this community," he stated. "Our goal now is to bring new investment into Amherstburg and ensure these skilled workers have access to good, stable jobs for the long term."
Diageo has stated it will maintain other operations in Canada, including its corporate headquarters and warehouse facilities in the Greater Toronto Area. The Crown Royal plant in Amherstburg, located south of Windsor, is scheduled to end production in February 2026.
