GM meeting with Unifor Tuesday in Detroit about Oshawa plant future
Unifor petition to save the Oshawa plant has more than 31,000 signatures
General Motors (GM) has spoken to Unifor national president Jerry Dias Monday and a face-to-face meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Detroit, Mich., about the future of GM's Oshawa, Ont., plant.
A response was expected from the company Monday after a December meeting between the two parties, on whether GM would be willing to work with the union representing autoworkers to keep the Oshawa plant open.
GM's decision — which would also see production shifted to Mexico — has been contested by the union.
Unifor national president Jerry Dias met with GM Dec. 20 to discuss the company's Oshawa plant closure.
A Unifor petition to save the Oshawa plant has more than 31,000 signatures.
The petition says GM is betraying taxpayers and "putting Canadians out of work," reminding General Motors that "loyalty is a two-way street."
It also unveiled an ad spot geared at putting pressure on the automaker.
If <a href="https://twitter.com/GM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GM</a> expects Canadian consumers to remain loyal to GM, they need to be loyal to <a href="https://twitter.com/GMcanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GMCanada</a> workers and keep building vehicles in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oshawa?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oshawa</a>. Media release: <a href="https://t.co/8Sf0QK9Qwt">https://t.co/8Sf0QK9Qwt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveOshawaGM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveOshawaGM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CanLab?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CanLab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sellherebuildhere?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sellherebuildhere</a> <a href="https://t.co/gMXJgDCoNd">pic.twitter.com/gMXJgDCoNd</a>
—@UniforTheUnionWhat GM says will set the tone for a rally planned for Jan. 11 at Windsor's riverfront.
"GM's decision to leave Oshawa without product while ramping up manufacturing in Mexico is a slap in the face to all Canadians," said Jerry Dias, Unifor national president in the rally announcement.
Unifor is looking for both the provincial and federal governments to step into the conversation.
On Jan. 11th while <a href="https://twitter.com/GM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GM</a> updates investors on its plans to shut down Oshawa while expanding in Mexico workers from across Ontario will rally to send the message - <a href="https://twitter.com/GM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GM</a> if you sell here build here! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveOshawaGM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveOshawaGM</a> <a href="https://t.co/BUaIgZIy8w">https://t.co/BUaIgZIy8w</a>
—@JerryPDiasThe rally on Friday is expected to be larger than one held Dec. 19.