Catherwood LibraryILR School

Members of Canadian Local 88 of Unifor have just declared a strike at General Motors’ Ingersoll, Ontario plant following failed attempts at bargaining. Following General Motors’ expression of intent to cut jobs and outsource work internationally and given the 600 layoffs that occurred at this plant in July, there is clearly a contentious environment in GM’s Ontario plant as workers have little to no job security. On the other hand, the Local’s priority in bargaining has been the designation of the Ontario plant as the head producer of the Chevrolet Equinox as it is currently in competition with a Mexican plant which also produces the Equinox. Securing production is now the most important aspect of negotiations to workers as they see their jobs given to cheaper labor in Mexico and fear for their livelihoods as the impact of a strike at the Ontario plant is significantly hindered by the existence of the competing Mexican plant. With nearly 2,800 jobs on the line, union members are anxious to see whether GM will address their needs or simply shift their attention to less costly international labor.