Union officials that represent workers at feeder plants for the Windsor Assembly Plant (WAP) say they aren't ready to comment on Thursday's news of a shift cancellation.
FCA Canada announced on Thursday evening that FCA Canada will be returning to the traditional two-shift operation to better align production with global demand and the third shift will be cancelled September 30 — the move will impact 1,500 workers.
FCA Response to Query Regarding Indefinite Layoffs at WAP:
In order to better align production with global demand at its Windsor Assembly Plant, FCA notified Unifor today that it intends to return the plant to a traditional two shift operation, beginning Sept. 30, 2019. This action will affect approximately 1500 people. Retirement packages will be offered to eligible employees. The Company will make every effort to place indefinitely laid off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority.
AM800 News reached out to multiple people, many of them saying they needed time to process the announcement and get more information.
Local 195 Vice President John Toth, who represents about 1,000 workers at local feeder plants, says it's too soon to know how this will impact his membership.
He tells AM800 News he is waiting on more information and likely won't be ready to comment until Friday afternoon.
Earlier this month, workers at Syncreon voted 99.9% in favour of strike action — their contract expires March 31st, putting them in a position to strike.
Auto Analyst Denis DeRosier as well as Windsor and District Labour Council President Brian Hogan also declined to comment, saying they needed more information.
The FCA announcement follows months of slumping sales of the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Grand Caravan, both built at Windsor Assembly.
Sales of the Pacifica this year are down 54 per cent in Canada through February and 24 per cent in the U.S. Sales of the Grand Caravan are down more than 20 per cent in both countries over the same period.
(Image courtesy of CTV News)
It was announced on Wednesday that WAP would be idle the weeks of April 8 and 15 to "align production with demand."
With the three shifts, Windsor Assembly employs roughly 6,000 people and when running at full volume, produces nearly 1,500 vehicles per day.
A number of provincial and federal politicians have also responded to the news from FCA, calling it disappointing.