In a press release, General Motors has confirmed the closure of the assembly plant in Oshawa.
The company says the plant will close at the end of 2019, putting nearly 3,000 people out of work. GM also announced the closure of two other plants, one in Ohio and the other in Michigan.
In addition to the three vehicle assembly plants that are being closed, GM has also announced the closure of two engine assembly plants in the US.
In the release, the company says "Actions are being taken to reduce salaried and salaried contract staff by 15 percent, which includes 25 percent fewer executives to streamline decision making."
We're expecting to hear from both GM Canada and the Union, later today.
It was initially reported on Sunday from sources to our media partner CTV Toronto that General Motors will be shutting down its operations in Oshawa, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs. General Motors currently employs about 2,800 people in the Oshawa area, although at one time it employed 40,000. Of those 2,800 currently employed, about 2,500 positions are unionized and approximately 300 are salaried positions.
The city itself is home to 159,000 people.
“My entire family has worked at General Motors,” Oshawa Mayor John Henry told CTV Toronto Sunday evening.
“My dad was a foreman in the plant. I have two brothers in the plant. My sister worked there in university. I worked there as a contractor.”
Unifor says it will be discussing the matter with GM on Monday, as this would not live up to an agreement made during 2016 contract negotiations.
GM also employs workers in Markham, Ingersoll and St. Catharines, but it's not clear if these workers will lose their jobs or be impacted in any way.
- With files from CTV News