CAW comments on layoff decision at Oshawa GM truck plant

GM recently announced that they will eliminate one shift of production at their Oshawa truck plant- a devastating blow to the local economy and community. The layoffs will result in the elimination of over 1,000 direct jobs in addition to the 3,000 jobs that will be scrapped next fall when Car Plant 2 closes. This amounts to a total of 4,000 jobs lost within the next year- resulting in a reduction of over one hundred million dollars in family income in the area.

The effects, of course, are more far-reaching than the confines of the GM plant. Hundreds of other direct jobs will be lost, as suppliers scale back employment to compensate. The CAW said in a recent announcement that the layoff's compound existing problems facing Ontario's economy and financial situation.

But, CAW officials say that they'll start working immediately to try and ease the pain of the layoffs for their members as much as possible. They'll attempt such action as pressing GM to negotiate buyout incentives, allowing many of the jobs to be offset through early retirement. GM is not obligated to such negotiations because the layoffs are a decision based on production volume, but they can be expected to be pressed just the same.