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OSHAWA, ON, Oct. 17, 2013 /CNW/ - The announcement this morning that General Motors has extended the life of its Assembly Complex (Consolidated Line) in Oshawa is good news for the workers at the plant, and the entire community, Unifor National President Jerry Dias says.
"This was great news to wake up to this morning," Dias said. "It is a testament to what we've been saying about this plant all along - that the skills and efficiency of the workers at the plant make it worth keeping open."
General Motors announced this morning that in order to meet expected demand for the Impala and Equinox, both made on the Consolidated Line, it was extended production there until 2016. The plant had been scheduled to close in within the next year.
"By maintaining production over the next few years, we have a chance to bring in another product and keep the plant open longer," said Ron Svajlenko, president of Unifor Local 222, which represents workers at the plant.
Svajlenko said the awarding of a J.D. Power Silver Plant Assembly Line Quality Award on Oct. 2 was a testament to the hard work of unionized auto workers, and a key factor in why the plant will now remain open longer.
"The workers at that plant have done a great job," he said.
The Consolidated Line has consistently been a top plant in North America, and the decision to extend operations is evidence of that, he said.
The decision also means that workers in the plant will be able to continue supporting their families and the local economy, Dias said, adding that every job at the plant supports another 10 down the value chain.
Unifor represents more than 300,000 workers in every sector of the Canadian economy, including the auto industry. The union was founded Labour Day weekend when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged at a convention in Toronto.
SOURCE Unifor
