Reaction to significant job losses at the Windsor Assembly Plant has come fast and hard from local politicians.
Local MPs are concerned for the workers and their families after Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced on Thursday that it is cutting one of three shifts at the plant.
Windsor West MP Brian Masse, Essex MP Tracey Ramsey, and Windsor-Tecumseh MP Cheryl Hardcastle all said they are devastated by the news.
Ramsey added that the job losses will rip Windsor apart.
“My thoughts and concerns right now are with the workers and their families who are reeling from this devastating news,” Ramsey stated. "The impact of 1,500 direct job losses will lead to the loss of thousands of others in the supplier plants, vendors and other businesses that depend on the facility."
Hardcastle said it's a slap in the face for Windsor.
“This is a terrible blow to our entire community,” Hardcastle stated. "The latest federal budget by the Trudeau Liberals lacked new domestic auto investment but instead earmarked $300 million in purchase incentives that excluded the only Canadian built electric vehicle, the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid pouring salt into the wounds of workers."
The NDP said this is appalling at a time when FCA is making a $6.5 billion investment in the Detroit area and claim the Liberals have done nothing to ensure that Canadians benefit.
Masse said the Liberals have not responded to his request for a working group to guarantee that FCA’s Canadian workers and suppliers can take advantage of the investment.
“The prime minister and the innovation minister love to talk about innovation and a high tech economy but they have done nothing to implement the national auto strategy that would ensure that Canadians actually get jobs," Masse said. "This is what abandoning manufacturing has led to."
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the province to step up for Windsor auto workers.
“The hearts of the Official Opposition MPPs are in Windsor, with the 1,500 workers and their families who had their financial security and future plans erased," she said. "The province can and must step up, step in, and find out right away how the government can stem or stop the job losses, and ensure workers land on their feet."
She added that tens of thousands of Ontario auto jobs are at risk if the province fails to take action.
Premier Doug Ford said he stands with the workers.
"In the face of this extremely disappointing announcement from Fiat Chrysler, our government will not waver in our support for the thousands of men and women that go to work in Ontario's auto sector every day," he said. "I want the employees at the Windsor Assembly Plant to know that my government stands with you and your families. We will fight tooth and nail to protect the jobs of the auto workers in Windsor."
Ford said he will be speaking to FCA Canada President Reid Bigland, and to Unifor President Jerry Dias to urge them to work with him to protect these jobs.
The premier said his government remains steadfast in their support for the auto workers in Windsor and provincewide.
