General Motors has rejected various proposals by Unifor to keep the Oshawa Assembly Plant open past 2019.
Company officials met with Unifor president Jerry Dias in Detroit on Tuesday and said it is ready to work with the union on support and transition packages for workers.
After the meeting, Dias spoke with media at the union hall on Turner Rd. in Windsor and says at the end of the day, the numbers don't add up.
"General Motors is holding firm with the decision that will have Canadians building less than 200,000 GM vehicles a year, while expecting Canadians to continue to buy over 300,000 GM vehicles," he says.
Something Dias doesn't think people will forget about is the bailout, saying the planned closure a slap in the face. He adds, "when GM needed us the most, we gave them $11-billion. Canadians also understand that Mexico as a government gave General Motors nothing. So, Canadians are furious today and frankly so am I and so is the leadership team that met General Motors today."
A previously planned rally for Friday at 11am at Windsor's Dieppe Gardens will now be a protest. Oshawa's Local 222 president as well as Dias are scheduled to speak at the event that will see members bussed in from all over the region, including Oshawa.
According to GM officials, they have been contacted by more than 20 large employers across Durham Region and the GTA interested in hiring GM workers for up to 5,000 positions they plan to fill over the next two years.
Approximately 2,500 people will be out of work when the Oshawa plant closes.
GM Asks Unifor to Work Together on Transition Support for Oshawa Assembly Workers
OSHAWA, Ont. (Tuesday, January 8, 2019) — General Motors today continued discussions with Unifor related to Oshawa Assembly and GM’s Accelerated Transformation announcement of November 26, 2018.
GM responded to Unifor proposals from December and invited the union to begin constructive discussions on transition strategies and supports for Oshawa Assembly workers who may elect to either retire or pursue new careers following their work for GM.
GM detailed some of these transition supports in a letter to Unifor.
On December 14, GM Canada announced millions of dollars in training support for Oshawa Assembly employees who wish to transition to new careers but may require additional training.
GM has been contacted by more than 20 large employers across Durham Region and the GTA interested in hiring GM workers for up to 5,000 positions they plan to fill over the next two years.