Second Shift at GM Oshawa Assembly is Half Women

Inclusive culture, another long-standing resentment for fading white males?

Two months after the first Chevrolet Silverado rolled off the line at the reopened Oshawa Plant, second shift production has begun. In November, GM announced the hiring and training of 1,800 new jobs for two-shifts of production and the plant continues its launch acceleration. For the first time in the plant’s history, more than half of Oshawa’s new production hires are women. GM’s says this is consistent with its commitment to be the most inclusive company in the world.

Pickups trucks are GM’s largest and currently the most important market segment in North America. The Oshawa plant  – once doomed only a couple of years ago as GM prepared to abandon it because of NAFTA and archaic attitudes toward labor, will help GM meet demand for trucks. Oshawa Assembly is now one of the most flexible and advanced of its kind in the industry, GM claims. Oshawa began shipping trucks to dealers in December 2021. 

“Adding a second shift of truck production so quickly after launch continues Oshawa’s long history of speed and agility and helps GM meet strong customer demand for its largest and most important market segment,” said Scott Bell, GM Canada president and managing director. “And with a new, diverse workforce that includes more women in production roles, the impact of an inclusive culture is immediately noticeable the moment you step inside the plant.”

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