Nearly 600 workers at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll are going to be laid off this summer.
And the CAMI plant chair of Unifor local 88 says it's clear why the workers are losing their jobs.
Mike Van Boekel says the union was notified Friday morning that up to 600 workers will be receiving layoff notices from General Motors that will take effect this summer. The announcement came just six weeks after the company announced the relocation of some of CAMI's production to Mexico.
"They said we don't have enough work, although six weeks ago they announced that they are taking our Terrain, that represents a third of our production, to Mexico because of over-capacity," said Van Boekel. "We've been working every Saturday for eight years. Six days a week, 24 hours a day and they say we can't keep up. So, due to over-capacity they're moving our Terrain to Mexico this summer. And now, six weeks later they're laying us off because we don't have enough work. It's unbelievable."
The move is especially concerning, according to Van Boekel, because of the increase in staffing levels at CAMI over the past year.
"We've hired over 600 in the last year. It's an absolute shame that people have quit jobs to start a new career path at a GM plant and then they [the company] turns around and do this," he said.
About 2,800 hourly workers are employed at CAMI.
Van Boekel says they do have a considerable number of workers who are nearing retirement age, so the union hopes the number of layoffs can be mitigated by buyouts and early retirement incentives. He says they will be having talks with GM soon to see what can be worked out to minimize the job losses.
While the decision late last year to move Terrain production to Mexico might have been seen as a hint that layoffs were on the horizon, Van Boekel says it's still hard to believe that GM would cut jobs at CAMI.
"I know Mexico is cheaper, but according to the auto surveys we are the most efficient plant in North America. And they still move our work to Mexico? Are you kidding me? There's no loyalty, whatsoever," he said.
Van Boekel added the mood in the plant on Friday morning was not good.
"I would say everybody is extremely pissed off. They have every right to be," he said. "Maybe Trump isn't as crazy as people think."
US President Donald Trump has called on American auto-makers to resist building more vehicles in Mexico.
