Hundreds of General Motors workers gathered outside the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, urging the company to secure a new vehicle for production at the facility. Represented by Unifor Local 88, the employees seek clarity regarding the plant’s future after GM’s recent decision to discontinue the BrightDrop electric delivery van program. A simultaneous protest was happening in Brampton, according to individuals at the Ingersoll rally interviewed by CBC London.
Unifor initiated “Solidarity Actions” at the Brampton Assembly Plant and CAMI facility after Stellantis disclosed plans to move the Jeep Compass program from Brampton to the U.S. and GM announced the termination of the BrightDrop initiative at CAMI. Approximately 1,200 workers in Ingersoll were left jobless, impacting an area heavily reliant on the automotive industry.
While GM attributed the closure to market demand and van sales performance, employees at the rally expressed skepticism. Many workers believed the decision was influenced by political factors in the United States, particularly concerning tariffs. GM workers, promised six months of salary, expressed disappointment over the plant’s closure, which was established with optimism and public funding four years ago.
GM’s Canadian president issued a statement ahead of the protests, emphasizing the company’s lengthy manufacturing history in Ingersoll and its commitment to exploring new opportunities for the CAMI plant. Despite ongoing operations in Oshawa and St. Catharines and the construction of a new battery-materials facility in Bécancour, Quebec, concerns lingered over the significant public investment in retooling for the BrightDrop project.
Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the formation of a coalition, involving the union and Ontario officials, to advocate for fresh production ventures at the CAMI plant. Joly mandated a 15-day deadline for GM to outline plans for affected employees, stressing the importance of securing a new product for the facility.
Union members hope the deadline prompts GM to provide clarity on the plant’s future. Unifor Local 88’s president, Mike Van Boekel, supported the ultimatum, expecting GM to present a strategic vision promptly. Van Boekel emphasized the urgency of the situation, indicating a swift resolution was necessary for the workforce and the community.