Union Warns of Occupation at Cami Plant if GM Removes Equipment

• Unifor warns it will occupy the Cami plant if GM removes machinery.

• EV production ended, affecting over 1,100 workers in Ingersoll, Ontario.

• Federal officials urged GM to commit to the plant’s future within 15 days.

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Unifor Local 88 chair Mike Van Boekel said more than 1,100 laid-off workers are prepared to block the removal of equipment and remain inside the plant until a solution is reached.

Workers at the General Motors Cami Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, are threatening to occupy the facility if the company proceeds with plans to remove machinery following the halt of electric van production.

The union’s warning follows GM Canada’s decision last month to stop producing the BrightDrop electric delivery van at the site due to low sales. The action resulted in the layoff of the plant’s entire workforce.

Van Boekel said the union is ready to challenge the automaker in court if necessary. “We will occupy the plant until there is a way forward,” he said. “We want to team up with the federal government and GM to get something for the plant.”

According to Van Boekel, removing machinery would effectively signal GM’s intention to shutter the plant permanently.

Last Tuesday, Van Boekel met with federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli, and Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie. “It was a good meeting. She told GM to come back with a commitment to the plant. She said talks are continuing,” Van Boekel said.

The union posted a bulletin online declaring its readiness to seize the plant if GM attempts to remove even a single piece of equipment. “We have made our position with the company crystal clear: nothing comes in and nothing goes out,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Oxford MP Arpan Khanna released a letter to Joly requesting an update on the situation, which he called a “crisis affecting workers.” The letter came after Joly stated in an Oct. 23 social media post that she had met with GM, Unifor, and provincial officials and expected a full update from the automaker within 15 days.

GM Canada did not respond to a request for comment as of Wednesday.

Source: Windsor Star