A grievance filed by Unifor against Nemak in Windsor has been dismissed.
According to a release from the company, the arbitrator concluded that the union did not establish that the employer violated the collective agreement.
It notes the grievance filed by Unifor regarding the closure of the plant must be thrown out.
Unifor Local 200 argued the company violated the agreement with a decision to shut down operations in 2020 and move production to Mexico.
Local 200 represents 170 workers at the west Windsor plant.
Back in September, workers formed a blockade at the plant that lasted two weeks, until the courts intervened.
Both sides then agreed to arbitration.
"It is just devastating to see once again, corporations getting away with murder," says Unifor Local 200 President John D'Agnolo. "These workers are absolutely devastated."
He says the union has no regrets.
"We absolutely needed to challenge these corporations. We can't allow corporations to make agreements, shake hands and then walk away."
D'Agnolo says the ruling means the plant will close in the first quarter of the new year.
Arbitrator Norm Jesin did not find "any bad faith from either party. In fact, both parties made a good faith effort to create conditions that would allow the plant to operate even beyond 2022."
He says, "unfortunately through no fault of any party, the contract did not deliver the amount of work expected."