Hundreds of General Motors employees took to the sidewalk outside the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont., on Wednesday to call on the automotive company to find a new vehicle for production at the plant.
The workers, represented by Unifor Local 88, want clarity soon on the future of production after last week’s announcement that the CAMI plant would no longer be involved in the BrightDrop electric delivery van.
A similar protest was underway in Brampton when CBC London spoke to people at the protest in Ingersoll.
Unifor says the “Solidarity Actions” at the Brampton Assembly Plant and CAMI plant were set after Stellantis announced its intent to relocate the Jeep Compass program from Brampton to the U.S. and GM said it would be cancelling the BrightDrop program at CAMI.
In Ingersoll, approximately 1,200 people suddenly found themselves out of work in a part of Ontario where the automotive sector is baked into the ecomony.
GM has said the decision was about market demand and poor sales of the van, but has not linked the closure to tariffis in the United States.
Skeptical, many workers at the Ingersoll rally — who have been told they’ll receive six months salary — said they see a direct link between the political climate south of the border and the company’s decision to walk away from a facility launched with optimism and public money only four years ago.
“We were ready to take off running, but unfortunately, the new president was inaugurated and started talking tariffs right away,” 20-year CAMI employee Stephen Pyle said.
“Everybody was really liking the idea of what we were doing and saving money with their fleets, but not wanting to get tied into contracts that would be hit hard with tariffs down the road.”
Ahead of the rallies, GM issued a statement on behalf of its Canadian president, saying it is working to find a new pupose for the CAMI plant and noting the company has been building vehicles in Ingersoll for more than 100 years. The plant itself opened in 1989.
“As CAMI Assembly is being assessed for future opportunities, GM’s focus is on supporting our people and working with our partners,” the statement from Kristian Aquilina said.
“These are complex discussions, and we need to invest the time necessary for collaboration that will deliver better outcomes for our people, our communities and our customers.”
GM has said that Canada remains central to its North American operations, highlighting ongoing production in Oshawa and St. Catharines, as well as a new $600-million battery-materials facility under construction in Bécancour, Que.
Still, with $500 million in public money invested in retooling for the BrightDrop facility, federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said a group that included the union and Ontario would be created to push for new production at the plant.
Joly also gave GM 15 days to detail next steps for employees, which be a deadline of next Wednesday.
“Ultimately, I want to see a new product here. We have proven time and time again that our vehicles are second to none. We deserve a new vehicle,” longtime CAMI employee Brooke Strub said.
“They need to bring another product in here,” echoed Maria Chinelli, who came from GM’s Oshawa plant to protest. “This plant is here. The workers are ready to work the products. The workers don’t want to go. I don’t wanna be laid off.”
Hear CBC London’s full interview with Kristian Aquilina, president and managing director of GM Canada, about plans to end the BrightDrop electric van production at its CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont. Aquilina took questions about the decision, its implications for local workers, and what this change means for auto production in the province.
