A “long overdue return to a two-shift operation” at the GM CAMI Assembly plant – where the Chevy BrightDrop commercial van is produced – is one of the results of ongoing talks between Canadian union Unifor and GM Canada, according to the leaders of Local 88.
While still producing the Chevy BrightDrop on and off, work schedules at the facility have been reduced to a single shift many times during the past two years, leaving many workers working – and earning – only part of the time, Automotive News Canada reports.
GM Canada has not confirmed or even commented on the return to two shifts at this point. Negotiations are already down to the wire, with the current contract between The General and Unifor expiring on September 17th. Perhaps fed up with the low production of Chevy BrightDrop vans and the accompanying lack of work – and pay – 97 percent of Unifor’s 1,200 members at the plant approved a strike mandate.
The General’s spokeswoman Natalie Nankil signaled that the economics of the BrightDrop product line may be improving enough to support expanded production, stating “our production schedules are based on market demand.” She added that “we see opportunity for growth potential under this new retail strategy,” possibly indirectly confirming the possibility a second shift might be in the cards.
GM’s decision to put BrightDrop under the Chevy brand umbrella could help with this expansion, putting the Bow Tie’s marketing and numerous dealerships to work selling the Chevy BrightDrop van. Production of the BrightDrop 400 and BrightDrop 600 vans, named for their approximate cargo capacity in cubic feet, restarted at the CAMI plant at the beginning of September 2024.
A return to a full production schedule might see workers back on the job constantly, rather than cycling between two weeks of work and two weeks of being idled while a different set of employees operate the plant. Other issues on the agenda during the talks will be wage increases to match other GM plants, along with improvements to pensions.
Mike Van Boekel, the Unifor chairman at the CAMI plant, summed up the union’s attitude by saying “now we need to get our members back to what they do best: building cutting edge vehicles that will drive us into the future.”
Comments
Needs the diesel to stay competitive.
The BrightDrop is EV. There is, nor ever was a diesel variant.
The Express/Savana HAD a diesel engine, 2022 was the last year, and it was the anemic 2.8 Duramax from the 15-22 Colorado/Canyon.
Delivery vans like the BrightDrop don’t need to be diesel. EV makes the most sense for stop and go driving like these vans experience. Modern diesels in a stop and go environment will be nothing but emissions component nightmares.
Bet I lay eyes on one of these in, oh, maybe 10 years. Just give it up already.
There are quite a few running around in Toronto,Canada and surrounding areas. I used to see them every day when I was in Toronto.
Same with Montreal, and that’s before they become widely available at Chevy dealerships.
Build an ICE version to sell tons of these.
Go to California and see these all over the place as FedEx vehicles.
Best get your butt off the beach or out of your Mom’s basement and open your eyes. There’s many out on the roads in urban areas as they are intended for “last mile delivery” by courier delivery companies. Those numbers will only increase with purchase / lease opportunities through Chevy dealerships now. All drivers of current units say they love them.
I spoke to a driver that said that it was VERY drafty in the winter so quite cold, and the seat is a bit narrow and uncomfortable (I think the seats are from a Bolt). They had nothing bad to say about the driving experience or the charging experience.
I find that hard to believe since GM does northern testing in Kapuskasing Ontario. ( Google it for location).
This is a very nice vehicle-i had the opportunity to ride/inspect a EV600 in Livonia-great concept. Contractors will want this vehicle 100%
Soon they’ll come equipped as autonomous vehicles. That will be interesting.
Union boys usually like to compromise quality when they don’t get to run the company the way they like.
Totally wrong walt w. Companies don’t hire “boys” nor girls anymore.
UNION WORKERS are in it for the long run. They prefer a job for life until they retire, healthy with a good pension and health care benefits to look after their family and themselves. Quality is of great concern to the workers on the shop floor. It’s upper management that moves on to the next plant or employer. So no vested interest in the longevity of the workplace.