ZCZC
BCN-31
CANADA-ITALY-US-AUTOMOBILE-LAYOFFS
Fiat Chrysler to cut 1,500 jobs at Canada plant
MONTREAL, March 29, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has
announced it will cut some 1,500 jobs at its factory in Windsor, Canada,
around a quarter of its local workforce.
The Italian-American automaker took the decision, effective from the end
of September, to “better align production with global demand,” it said in
comments reported in local media Thursday.
Retirement packages will be offered to eligible employees while the
company will also attempt to place laid off hourly employees in open full-
time positions as they become available based on seniority.
The announcement represents a fresh blow for the province of Ontario
following the axing of more than 2,500 jobs announced for the end of 2019 at
the General Motors plant in Oshawa, near Toronto.
The president of the Unifor union, Jerry Dias, tweeted: “I am deeply
concerned about the 1,500 plus families, the community of Windsor & the Cdn
auto industry – all affected by FCA Canada’s decision to end the 3rd shift at
Windsor Assembly Plant.”
He added the union was demanding an urgent meeting with FCA.
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, likewise promised to “fight tooth and
nail to protect the jobs of the auto-workers in Windsor.”
The Chrysler plant in Windsor employs some 6,100 workers and builds the
Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans.
Fiat Chrysler announced in late February the construction of a new auto
plant in Detroit, the first for 27 years in “Motor City,” as part of a $4.5
billion investment plan to create 6,500 jobs in the United States.
BSS/AFP/HR/1400