GM has laid off 79 workers at the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. The layoffs came a week after the plant returned to two shifts. According to Automotive News, GM’s reason for the layoffs was overstaffing.
“A small number of employees are impacted, and we are working with Unifor to follow the provisions of the local agreement,” GM spokesperson Natalie Nankil said in an email to Automotive News. Nankil added that the layoffs were a “continuation of various workforce actions started in 2024.”
Canadian labor union Unifor ratified a collective agreement with GM last Fall. The agreement covers 1,300 workers at the CAMI plant and brought significant pay increases to the workers, plus improvements to income security provisions, pension plans, a shorter window for wage progression to the top pay rate, and a bonus for full-time employees.
The CAMI Assembly plant is the sole production site of Chevy BrightDrop electric commercial vans, both the 400 and the longer 600 models. These all-electric delivery vans utilize GM battery and GM drive motor technology for upwards of 272 miles of range per charge. They also have an array of advanced driver features to enhance safety and efficiency, such as Front and Rear Park Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, and more.
Previously, workers at the CAMI assembly plant cycled between two weeks of work and two weeks of idle time while a different set of employees operated the plant. This was due to inconsistent demand for BrightDrop vans. Now, it appears that the economics of the Chevy BrightDrop product line, now available in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, have arrived at a point to support two full-time shifts consistently.
As GM Authority covered previously, General Motors announced in August that it was moving its all-electric BrightDrop commercial vans under the Chevrolet brand, effective for the 2025 model year. We suggested way back in March that it was only a matter of time before BrightDrop would fall under the Chevy brand umbrella. General Motors frames the move as an expansion to the Chevy EV portfolio, giving customers “access to one of the industry’s largest and most extensive commercial sales and service networks.”
Comments
so kkkkkk Trump what u think ….. the workers migrate back to USA kkkkkkkkkkkk… it is only 80 ,,, so workable feasible
There 100’s likely 1000’s of these sitting in lots in Flint. No one is buying that crap!
I work at this plant and this reporting is 100% inaccurate and more of a puff piece for GM. Terrible reporting!