Unifor locals in Windsor-Essex are coming together to support General Motors' workers in Oshawa.
A rally is set for 3:30pm Wednesday at the foot of Ouellette Ave. near the Great Canadian Flag along Windsor's riverfront.
The rally is being organized by the Guardian of Windsor, a local Unifor board.
Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy, Unifor Hall, October 26, 2018 (by AM800's Peter Langille)
Local 444 President Dave Cassidy says they're hoping to have at least 200 people at the rally.
"We can have the back drop for the optics of the General Motors {world headquarters in Detroit} behind," says Cassidy. "We've invited politicians from the federal, provincial and municipal areas both in Windsor and Essex County to be apart of it."
General Motors world headquarters in Detroit, Michigan.(Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
In November, GM announced it will close its Oshawa assembly plant next year, putting over 2,500 people out of work. The automaker is also closing assembly facilities in Hamtramck, Michigan and Lordstown, Ohio along with the transmission plant in Warren, Michigan and a smaller engine plant in Maryland.
Cassidy says Windsor-Essex needs to support the GM workers in Oshawa.
"I wish I could have more people involved and getting more people digging in on this issue because some people say will it doesn't affect me, I don't work for the Detroit Three but ultimately if we don't have jobs in Windsor-Essex County because of corporations moving out, it affects everybody," says Cassidy.
He also believes the closure in Oshawa will impact a number of areas including Windsor-Essex.
"We want to bring the awareness to everybody and I'm sure everybody is aware with it but we're not going to lay down on this one," says Cassidy. "This is important. These are great jobs and it affects a lot of people not just in the OEM's but the spin off jobs that are tied to that."