General Motors and Canadian union Unifor are set to release details on the Oshawa assembly plant’s future today. The plant, which GM named for closure by the end of 2019, has been a sticking point for the union since the automaker announced plans to restructure its North American operations this past November.
The same announcement saw GM idle the Lordstown, Ohio plant, schedule the Detroit-Hamtramck plant for idling, and move to take two transmission plants offline in the United States. GM will negotiate to close all four plants with the United Auto Workers union later this year.
Automotive News Canada (subscription required) reported on the upcoming announcement Wednesday, which will take place at 11:00 a.m. With both Unifor and GM in attendance, we have to imagine it’s good news for workers at the plant.
The publication surmised the announcement may relate to stamping work at the Canadian assembly plant. Although GM insisted it will not allocate any new product to the plant, GM Oshawa has also completed stamping work for various vehicles. It’s likely any continued stamping work won’t save all 2,600 jobs in jeopardy at Oshawa, but it may be a small victory for the union.
Canadian auto union flag
Currently, the plant stamps components for the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6, which are built at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant in Michigan. The assembly plant is set to idle in January 2020, with the Impala confirmed for death. The CT6 remains in question. Although Cadillac previously confirmed the large sedan would die off in North America, GM backtracked on the statement and said it’s looking to move CT6 production elsewhere in the U.S.
Oshawa is also responsible for some Impala production, Cadillac XTS production (another sedan that will soon die), and final assembly of the previous-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Photo: CamiJobAction/Twitter
Unifor suspended its damning public relations campaign against GM and its decision to close the Oshawa plant earlier this year when discussions surrounding the plant began. However, Unifor will be back at the bargaining table next year as its agreement expires with all three Detroit automakers.
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Source: Automotive News Canada
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