Hundreds of workers from General Motors gathered outside the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, demanding the company secure a new vehicle for production at the facility. Represented by Unifor Local 88, the employees seek clarity on the plant’s future following the recent announcement that it would no longer be involved in the BrightDrop electric delivery van project.
A parallel protest was taking place in Brampton at the time of CBC London’s coverage of the Ingersoll demonstration. Unifor initiated the “Solidarity Actions” at both the Brampton Assembly Plant and CAMI plant in response to Stellantis’ plan to move the Jeep Compass program from Brampton to the U.S. and GM’s decision to cancel the BrightDrop program at CAMI.
The sudden loss of jobs for approximately 1,200 individuals in Ingersoll, a region heavily reliant on the automotive industry, has raised concerns among workers. While GM cited market demand and poor van sales for the closure, many employees at the rally expressed skepticism, suggesting a connection between the decision and the political climate in the U.S., particularly regarding tariffs.
Ahead of the rallies, GM issued a statement through its Canadian president, Kristian Aquilina, affirming the company’s commitment to finding a new purpose 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 linger over the significant public investment made in retooling for the BrightDrop project.
In response to the situation, Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the formation of a group comprising the union and Ontario representatives to advocate for new production at the plant, giving GM a 15-day deadline to outline next steps for employees.
Union members are hopeful that the deadline will prompt GM to provide clarity on the future of CAMI Assembly. Mike Van Boekel, president of Unifor Local 88, emphasized the importance of holding GM accountable and ensuring prompt action to address the uncertainty surrounding the plant’s future. Longtime employees like Brooke Strub and Maria Chinelli expressed their desire for a new product to replace the canceled project, emphasizing the readiness of workers to contribute to future production at the plant.
