More shock and anger for workers in Ontario's auto sector. About 15 hundred people will be out of work come September, as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announces that it will cut the third shift at the assembly plant in Windsor. It's a shift that's reportedly been in place since 1993.
The company informed Unifor Local 444 of the move to two shifts late this afternoon, adding it's designed to "better align production with global demand.''
This follows months of slumping sales of the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Grand Caravan, both built inside the Windsor plant, which underwent a two billion dollar retooling in 2015 to start building the Chrysler Pacifica.
The company says it will make every effort to help place indefinitely laid off hourly employees in open full-time positions, as they become available based on seniority.
The plant employs more than 6,000 workers.
Meantime, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is vowing his government will ''fight tooth and nail'' to protect jobs in Windsor.
Ford says his government will not waver in support for the thousands of men and women who work in the auto sector.
The third shift at the Windsor assembly plant is set to be terminated on September 30, 2019.