The midnight shift reduction at the General Motors plant in Oshawa has been rescheduled to January 30, 2026, as confirmed by the company and the worker union on Tuesday. This delay means that around 750 GM employees will retain their positions until the new year, and an additional 1,500 workers from auto part suppliers are likely to have their jobs extended as well.
Previously, it was reported by CBC News that the supplier TFT Global Inc. intended to cut nearly 250 jobs by the end of the month. However, the company has now informed these workers via email that their jobs will be preserved until January. Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray mentioned that GM’s third line shift was initially anticipated to be eliminated in early November this year, although no official date had been announced by the company. Unifor and government officials have been advocating for sustaining production levels at the Oshawa plant, which manufactures the Chevrolet Silverado, since May.
“We want to maintain the current truck production,” Gray stated in an interview with CBC News on Tuesday, emphasizing the high quality and efficiency of the work conducted by Oshawa plant employees. GM representative Ariane Pereira confirmed via email that the three shifts will continue until January 2026, after which the plant will revert to a two-shift operation to prepare for building the next generation of full-size gas-powered pickups.
Chris Waugh, the Unifor chairperson for the Oshawa plant, emphasized that the union will persist in urging GM to retain all three shifts, stressing that these jobs belong to Canadian workers. Oshawa currently holds the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, with GM’s decision to move to a two-shift operation earlier this year attributed to changing trade dynamics. A Unifor memo pointed to external trade policies, particularly from the U.S., as factors influencing the potential line cut.
The temporary preservation of the third shift provides a positive outlook for Oshawa’s economy amid rising unemployment rates. Statistics Canada data revealed that Oshawa’s unemployment rate has reached nine percent, the second highest in the nation, with Mayor Dan Carter expressing concerns about the situation and advocating for collaborative efforts between governments and GM to safeguard jobs in the region.
Mayor Carter emphasized that GM recognizes Oshawa’s significance and is committed to the city’s automotive industry. The decision to delay the shift reduction was well-received by families reliant on these jobs, with assurances from GM’s leadership that Oshawa remains a pivotal hub in the North American automotive sector.
