Oshawa, Ontario On The Rise Despite GM Setbacks
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As the deadline of a strike looms at 11:59 p.m. this evening for Unifor GM Canada workers, things are beginning to look bleak. Without new investment and product, the Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant will likely close before the year 2020, displacing employees.
But, as Automotive News reports, Oshawa isn’t the GM city it once was. And that’s not all bad.
A new university, cancer center and nuclear plant expansion have made Oshawa one of the fastest growing labor markets in the country, attracting new workers who may never be a part of General Motors.
Oshawa continues to diversify its employment through technology, education and healthcare. As the report states, more students study game development than automotive engineering.
And despite the GM-Oshawa woes, BMO Capital Markets ranked Oshawa first in the country in its latest Regional Labour Market Report Card.
Oshawa will likely always be a GM town, but it’s not the city many once knew. For many new employees, that’s for the better.
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A total of 262,147 vehicles were produced in our plant in 2015 (or 718 per day), for a total of $5.8 billion worth of vehicles and parts for the year, or $16 million per day. General Motors can afford to invest in Oshawa
In Oshawa, auto workers contributed $94 million in income, payroll and sales taxes (or $257,000 per day) That money goes to support services that we all depend upon, such as health care, education and social services. These contributions are key to the health and well-being of our community in DurhamRegion and the GTA #GMOshawaMatters
While the University expands, consumer demands and economic spending will decrease without an automotive industry East of Toronto. Could the loss of the auto industry, be the tipping point that brings Ontario to it’s knees again? I hope not.
Glad my Camaro was built north of the border….. Thanks Oshawa…..
I am very pleased with my Oshawa built 2016 Regal. But a diverse workforce and other career opportunities are always a good thing. That said, I hope GM continues to play a large role in their local economy.
This is what happens when big business pulls out of a town or city where a significant part of the surrounding population is dependent upon it not only for income and but also the town’s economic viability.
I’m the proud owner of a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible built at the Oshawa plant. “Thank you” to all plant employees who had a hand in building my Camaro. I hope GM will find a way to want to keep the plant operating.