General Motors announced today that they are sure on their decision to close the plant in Oshawa. On Monday, Government officials met the General Motors President at the Detroit Auto Show to discuss the fate of the plant. Premier Doug Ford says there’s nothing he can do now to change the decision of closing down the plant.
Local Unifor 88 President, Joe Graves, is upset with Doug Ford’s decision to not push any further in keeping the plant alive. He believes Ford should be trying harder to keep the plant open because the plant is so vital to the Oshawa area.
“The fight right now is hopefully to keep the plant open. Anything he can do through the Provincial Government and assist Unifor and try and attempt to keep the plant open would be beneficial to the community and families that work down there.”
Unifor President of Canada, Jerry Dias, has a lot of convincing to do now as General Motors is almost certain to close the Oshawa plant. When asked where Diaz goes now to keep the plant open, Graves is not sure how the Unifor President is going to bounce back.
“I was talking to the plant chair person yesterday about that. I honestly don’t know what his next course of action would be. I imagine there will be some type of demonstration in Oshawa coming up shortly.”
Even today, its a disgrace to Graves at the decision GM is taking.
“It brings me shock that all of these people are going to be affected. People I don’t think really realize the trickle down affect of a plant of 2500 closing down. There’s spin off jobs affected. United Way is going to be affected.”
Graves says the plant may send down job applications to Ingersoll, but they’re going to have a long wait if they ever want a job.
“We may see some of the 2500 workers come down if they do close. Right now we have 300 on lay off that would need to be recalled before any hires from Oshawa.”
GM Cami assembly plant in Ingersoll
As for local part impacts if the plant closes, GM Ingersoll may see a reduction in a part they receive weekly from Oshawa which could cause complications in the production line.
“We do get some of our parts stamped from Oshawa. It may affect us down the road. Some parts that get stamped from Oshawa will have to be looked at for where they’re going to be made then.”
Unifor members will continue to protest until the final decision on the Oshawa plant is made. GM Canada say they will make the decision before the end of 2019.
