Canadian trade union Unifor is preparing for discussions with General Motors regarding GM CAMI plant employees and their work contracts.
According to a report from Automotive News Canada, The General currently has a three-year contract with roughly 1,500 workers that is due to expire on September 17th, 2024. Represented by Unifor Local 88, these upcoming discussions will set the stage for yet another round of bargaining between the Detroit-based automaker and unions.
It’s worth noting that the CAMI plant in Canada was originally a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki when it opened back in the late 1980s and has traditionally operated on a separate contract cycle.
As for the union’s priorities, the Unifor chairman for the CAMI facility has stated that improving wages and getting a commitment from The General to bring more of the plant’s workforce back to full-time are currently the focus.
“We’ve been rotating two shifts for a long time now,” CAMI plant Unifor Chairperson Mike Van Boekel remarked in a prepared statement. “So, we need to talk to GM about putting programs in place or getting some kind of work – subassemblies or something – to get our members working. We have not been told of a second shift yet. GM put a pile of money – well over $1 billion into our plant – their main goal is to make money, so I would expect sometime late this year, or early next year we would be two shifts.”
For reference, the CAMI facility has dealt with marked periods of downtown over the past few years, including retooling projects and Ultium battery shortages. Production of the BrightDrop all-electric vans did restart in April 2024, but only on a single shift, which means that A and B shift workers are rotating every two weeks.
Notably, Unifor Local 88 may also explore being added to Unifor’s master bargaining agreement with General Motors Canada. Discussions are expected to begin in July 2024.
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Comments
We’ve had 4 vehicles in the past come from this plant. A Chevy Tracker 4×4, 2 Equinox models and a Chevy Metro. All turned out to be excellent vehicles with zero mechanical problems.
The little 4×4 Tracker (1st generation), was a tank. Just about go anywhere, great gas mileage, comfortable and easy to drive 4 spd manual transmission. Too bad Suzuki/GM didn’t do any rustproofing on the Trackers and Metros. That was their shortcoming….but we got 200k miles out of the Metro before it rusted so bad it was unsafe to drive
Be careful what you wish for, AI is leaping ahead, robot abilities are improving daily, you could end up with 5x as many processes and less people.
Be careful if you sign yes they will lay you off just look at st Catharines plant laying off more than half the plant .. for up to 3 years … So be careful what you wish for
St Catherine is retooling which is exactly what cami just went through and are all well aware of what they are wishing for!!
St Catherine is retooling which is exactly what cami just went through and are all aware of what they are wishing for
Yeah retooling for an EV department that won’t be long until they close the doors like they did Oshawa and reopen and hire all new ppl at half wages .. so yeah .
No future no respect and no home life .. laying full time guys off longer than their call back rights
No communication
No remorse
Only care about one thing .. making millions .
This plant has always had a half empty parking lot