MEDIA ADVISORY - Workers rally to save Oshawa GM plant

WINDSOR, ON, Jan. 3, 2019 /CNW/ - As General Motors (GM) hosts an investor event to pitch its corporate direction, including expanding production in Mexico, workers from across Ontario will rally across from GM's Detroit headquarters to urge the automaker to continue operating its Oshawa Assembly Plant and maintain production in Canada.

"Oshawa is GM's most flexible plant, capable of making cars, SUVs and trucks, there is every reason for it to keep manufacturing here unless the company plans to disinvest from Canada, " said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "GM's decision to leave Oshawa without product while ramping up manufacturing in Mexico is a slap in the face to all Canadians."

After receiving almost $11 billion in bailout money from Canada, Unifor is also calling on the Ontario and Federal governments to press GM to reverse its decision to end vehicle production in Oshawa at the end of 2019.

GM enters 2019 as the largest auto manufacturer in Mexico, even though that country did not contribute a dime to the 2008 bailout.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor