Hundreds of unionized workers from the CAMI plant are headed to the picket lines to call on General Motors to find a new vehicle for production at the plant.
The workers under Unifor Local 88 were left uncertain about the future of the plant, after GM announced they were stopping production of the BrightDrop electric delivery vans.
CAMI was the biggest employer in Ingersol- employing 1,200 people who suddenly found themselves without a job and uncertain about the plant’s future.
Stephen Pyle has been working for the auto assembly plant for 20 years. He said “we were ready to take off running, but unfortunately the new president was inaugurated and started talking tariffs right away.”
The workers at the Ingersoll rally have been told they would receive six months salary ahead of the decision to end production at the plant.
Pyle said they see a direct link between the company’s decision and the political climate in the U.S., skeptical that GM would walk away from the CAMI facilities, “Everybody was liking the idea of what we were doing and saving money with their fleets, but not wanting to get tied into contracts that would be hit hard with tariffs down the road.”
GM issued a statement saying it’s working on finding a new focus for the plant, “As CAMI Assembly is being assessed for future opportunities, GM’s focus is on supporting our people and working with our partners,” sad GM Canadian President Kristian Aqualina.
Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly put pressure on GM to provide answers to the CAMI workers. The 15 day deadline comes Wednesday.
