Hard blow in the Canadian automotive sector. Fiat Chrysler will cut 1,500 jobs at its assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, a quarter of the workforce.
The Italian-American manufacturer has made this decision to “better align production with global demand,” he said in a statement. The job cuts will be effective at the end of September 2019. Support measures for retirement and redeployment of employees will be implemented.
This announcement comes on the heels of more than 2,500 confirmed job cuts at the end of 2019 at General Motors’ assembly plant in Oshawa, near Toronto.
Reaction of the Premier of Ontario
In a message posted on Twitter Unifor union president Jerry Dias says he is “deeply concerned for the more than 1,500 families involved, for the Windsor community and for the Canadian auto industry.” He indicates that his union demanded to meet quickly the management of the group.
The announcement also reacted to Ontario Premier Doug Ford. In one communicated he promised that his government “will fight tooth and nail to protect jobs in the Windsor auto sector”.
$ 4.5 billion investment in the United States
He adds to the builder’s attention: “Do not make this decision based on anti-business laws made by previous governments in the last 15 years. Our government is lowering taxes, reducing electricity rates and cutting red tape. For automakers, it has never been a better time to invest in Ontario. “
The Chrysler Windsor plant employs approximately 6,100 people and produces the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans.
At the end of February, the manufacturer announced the construction of a car production plant in Detroit , in Michigan, the first in 27 years in this American city nicknamed “Motor City”. A decision taken as part of a $ 4.5 billion investment plan to create 6,500 jobs in the United States.
(AFP source)