"Fight of Our Lives": Canadian Union Leaders Rally Against Trump’s Trade War

On a crisp Saturday afternoon along the Windsor waterfront, the energy was unmistakable. More than 1,000 union members, representing industries from automotive to healthcare, converged at Festival Plaza to deliver a unified message: Canada’s workers are prepared to stand firm against the escalating U.S. trade war.

Waving Unifor flags and chanting in solidarity, the crowd voiced growing frustration with the economic uncertainty created by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade actions.

“This is the fight of our lives,” declared Unifor National President Lana Payne, standing before a sea of union members energized by a shared cause. “We will not back down.”

The rally — organized by Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union — underscored the deep anxiety gripping Canadian workers as Trump’s tariffs and trade measures continue to threaten jobs, investment, and economic stability.

Flanked by representatives from the automotive, lumber, and healthcare sectors, Payne emphasized that Canadian workers are not the enemy in the battle for fair trade. Instead, she called for unity, resilience, and political action to defend Canada’s economic future.

Among the speakers was James Stewart, president of Unifor Local 444, whose members at the Windsor Assembly Plant recently returned to work following a two-week production halt. Stewart challenged the notion, often pushed by Trump administration officials, that Canadian labor practices were undermining American jobs.

“The idea that we’re taking jobs is a fallacy,” Stewart told the cheering crowd. “If you build here, you provide jobs here. You have every right to sell here. But if you don’t build here, don’t expect to profit here. It’s as simple as that.”

Stewart’s remarks echoed the sentiments of workers from across Ontario, with union locals from Oshawa, Oakville, Kitchener, London, Ingersoll, St. Catharines, and Windsor all represented at the rally. Their message was clear: Canadian workers will not be scapegoats in a political conflict they did not create.

The rally also took on political undertones as Canada's federal election approaches. Several political figures attended the event, most notably NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who spent time speaking with workers and reinforcing his party’s support for protecting Canadian jobs.

As Monday’s election draws near, union leaders like Stewart are calling on all political parties to take a firmer stand against U.S. tariffs and trade policies that disproportionately hurt Canadian industries.

“You must defend our jobs. You must defend our country,” Stewart urged, directing his comments at whichever party forms the next government. “It’s not just about trade. It’s about sovereignty, fairness, and respect for Canadian workers.”

While the final outcome of the election remains uncertain, what is clear from Saturday’s rally is that union leaders are preparing for a prolonged battle — both in political corridors and on the shop floor — to protect workers from the fallout of Trump’s trade war.

As the sun set over the Detroit River, chants of solidarity continued to echo through Windsor, a powerful reminder that Canada's labor movement is ready to meet this moment head-on — and that for them, this is more than just a political fight. It’s a fight for their livelihoods, their families, and their future.