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General Motors says a C$280 million investment in Oshawa Assembly is coming to produce the next-generation internal combustion engine (ICE) full-size trucks. GM claims it is committed to Canadian manufacturing. Product details and the timing of GM’s future trucks are not being released at this time as contract talks later this summer loom large with a newly revived UAW. (AutoInformed on: Canadian Industrial Policy Actively, Successfully Pursuing EV Climate and Economic Benefits with New Mercedes, VW MOUs)
What role Unifor, which represents Canadian auto workers, plays in this remains to be seen. AutoInformed observes this is a bittersweet blessing for Canadian autoworkers since internal combustion engines are ultimately doomed. There are larger issues as well as the components and agreements for supplying electric vehicles are in place or at organizations that are hostile to unionized workers and even Democracies. (AutoInformed on:Chinese April Sales Soft – EV Exports Threaten Global Trade)
Consider that GM announced plans last February to invest in its Canadian St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, subject to completing support agreements with federal and Ontario governments, to manufacture new Ultium electric drive units. This would support around 500 jobs at the St. Catharines facility and enable the production of more than 400,000 EV drive units a year. Ultium – along with other Traditional Detroit Thee joint-venture plants common in the emerging EV business – is not covered by the UAW master agreement and is an ongoing source of strife – and perhaps looming work actions or strikes.
US presidential politics will also play a role. The UAW has not endorsed a candidate. There is even talk in union circles that the old pattern of selecting one company for negotiations then applying the pattern of the agreement to the others is obsolete. Maybe the union targets all the companies for individual actions. Fasten your seat belts.
“We are excited to announce additional investment for our Oshawa plant to support production of the next generation of full-size pickups,” said Marissa West, president and managing director of GM Canada. “Oshawa Assembly plays a critical role in meeting customer demand for GM’s popular full-size trucks, helping GM lead the Canadian industry in heavy-duty truck sales in 2022 and take an early lead in total truck sales for 2023. Today, we are proud to say we will continue to build pickups with Oshawa pride for years to come.”
“What this investment will do is significant for workers and families across Oshawa and the Durham region,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “By building the next generation of truck products thousands of jobs and the plant’s footprint will be secured for years to come. Continuing to invest in Oshawa autoworkers makes sense now and in the future. The skills, hard work, and dedication of Unifor autoworkers are what fuels Canada’s economic engine and builds world-class vehicles used every day all over the world.”
Two years ago, Oshawa Assembly provided one of the fastest plant launches in GM history, demonstrating the flexibility and agility of the Oshawa workforce. Since it reopened, GM Canada has created 2600 new manufacturing jobs, and thousands of indirect jobs at Canadian suppliers. Production has increased to three shifts. But that was two years ago.
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GM to Build Full-Size Pickups at Oshawa – Maybe
Click for more information.
General Motors says a C$280 million investment in Oshawa Assembly is coming to produce the next-generation internal combustion engine (ICE) full-size trucks. GM claims it is committed to Canadian manufacturing. Product details and the timing of GM’s future trucks are not being released at this time as contract talks later this summer loom large with a newly revived UAW. (AutoInformed on: Canadian Industrial Policy Actively, Successfully Pursuing EV Climate and Economic Benefits with New Mercedes, VW MOUs)
What role Unifor, which represents Canadian auto workers, plays in this remains to be seen. AutoInformed observes this is a bittersweet blessing for Canadian autoworkers since internal combustion engines are ultimately doomed. There are larger issues as well as the components and agreements for supplying electric vehicles are in place or at organizations that are hostile to unionized workers and even Democracies. (AutoInformed on:Chinese April Sales Soft – EV Exports Threaten Global Trade)
Consider that GM announced plans last February to invest in its Canadian St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, subject to completing support agreements with federal and Ontario governments, to manufacture new Ultium electric drive units. This would support around 500 jobs at the St. Catharines facility and enable the production of more than 400,000 EV drive units a year. Ultium – along with other Traditional Detroit Thee joint-venture plants common in the emerging EV business – is not covered by the UAW master agreement and is an ongoing source of strife – and perhaps looming work actions or strikes.
US presidential politics will also play a role. The UAW has not endorsed a candidate. There is even talk in union circles that the old pattern of selecting one company for negotiations then applying the pattern of the agreement to the others is obsolete. Maybe the union targets all the companies for individual actions. Fasten your seat belts.
“We are excited to announce additional investment for our Oshawa plant to support production of the next generation of full-size pickups,” said Marissa West, president and managing director of GM Canada. “Oshawa Assembly plays a critical role in meeting customer demand for GM’s popular full-size trucks, helping GM lead the Canadian industry in heavy-duty truck sales in 2022 and take an early lead in total truck sales for 2023. Today, we are proud to say we will continue to build pickups with Oshawa pride for years to come.”
“What this investment will do is significant for workers and families across Oshawa and the Durham region,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “By building the next generation of truck products thousands of jobs and the plant’s footprint will be secured for years to come. Continuing to invest in Oshawa autoworkers makes sense now and in the future. The skills, hard work, and dedication of Unifor autoworkers are what fuels Canada’s economic engine and builds world-class vehicles used every day all over the world.”
Two years ago, Oshawa Assembly provided one of the fastest plant launches in GM history, demonstrating the flexibility and agility of the Oshawa workforce. Since it reopened, GM Canada has created 2600 new manufacturing jobs, and thousands of indirect jobs at Canadian suppliers. Production has increased to three shifts. But that was two years ago.
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