Trudeau meets with Unifor as GM set to shutter Oshawa plant
Posted November 27, 2018 8:31 am.
Last Updated November 27, 2018 3:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – A day after General Motors announced it is shuttering its operations in Oshawa, Ontario next year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the union representing the workers who will be affected.
As many as two and a half thousand employees could lose their jobs with this closure.
“We’re not buying the argument that nothing can be done,” said Unifor president Jerry Dias following the meeting.
But he called the meeting “productive,” noting Trudeau is willing to roll up his sleeves.
WATCH: Canada’s auto industry at risk if GM closes Oshawa plant: Unifor president
Dias says GM is trying to ship thousands of jobs to Mexico and he asked the government to consider tariffs on Mexican autos unless the auto company reversed its decision.
“If you’re going to have a company that’s going to show us their middle finger, then I think our government should show them their middle finger as well,” Dias said.
So far the prime minister has said its focus is on helping the workers and their families and is yet to lay out a specific plan of action.
Unifor is threatening wide-spread action in Canada and the U.S. if GM doesn’t back down from this plan.
Canada’s employment minister won’t say if there is anything the Feds can do to stop this shutdown and save the jobs, although the innovation minister has suggested GM has made up its mind.
On Monday, Trudeau met with the CEO of Ford Canada to discuss strengthening the auto industry.
