Why hundreds of General Motors employees picked today to protest outside Ontario auto plants

Hundreds of General Motors employees took to the sidewalk outside the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont., on Wednesday to urge the auto company to find a new vehicle to produce at the plant.

Workers represented by Unifor Local 88 want clarity on the future of production as quickly as possible following last week's announcement that the CAMI plant would no longer be involved in the production of the BrightDrop electric van.

A similar protest was taking place in Brampton when CBC London spoke to people attending the protest in Ingersoll.

Unifor says that “Solidarity Actions” at the Brampton Assembly Plant and the CAMI plant were created after Stellantis announced its intention to move the Jeep Compass program from Brampton to the US and GM said it would cancel the BrightDrop program at CAMI.

In Ingersoll, about 1,200 people suddenly found themselves unemployed in a part of Ontario where the auto sector is integrated into the economy.

GM said the decision was due to market demand and poor sales of the van, but did not link the closure to tariffs in the United States.

Skeptical many workers at the Ingersoll rally, who were told they would receive six months' pay, said they saw a direct link between the political climate south of the border and the company's decision to abandon a facility launched with optimism and public money just four years ago.

“We were ready to start running, but unfortunately the new president took office and immediately started talking about tariffs,” said 20-year CAMI employee Steven Pye.

“Everyone really liked the idea of ​​what we were doing and saving money on their fleet, but we didn’t want to get involved with contracts that would hit us hard with tariffs in the future.”

Ahead of the rallies, GM issued a statement on behalf of its Canadian president, saying it was working to find a new purpose for the CAMI plant and noting that the company has been making cars in Ingersoll for more than 100 years. The plant itself opened in 1989.

“As CAMI Assembly is assessed for future opportunities, GM is focused on supporting our employees and working with our partners,” Christian Aquilina said in a statement.

“These are difficult discussions, and we need to take the time necessary to collaborate that will deliver better results for our people, our communities and our customers.”

GM said Canada remains central to its North American operations, highlighting ongoing production in Oshawa and St. Catharines and a new $600 million battery materials plant under construction in Becancourt, Quebec.

However, with $500 million of public money invested in retooling the BrightDrop facility, fMinister of Industry Ederal Melanie Joly said a group would be formed, including the union and Ontario, to push for new production at the plant.

Joly also gave GM 15 days to detail next steps for employees, which expires next Wednesday.

“Ultimately, I want to see new product here. We have proven time and time again that our cars are second to none. We deserve a new car,” said longtime CAMI employee Brooke Strub.

“They need to bring another product here,” echoed Maria Cinelli, who traveled from the GM plant in Oshawa to protest. “This plant is here. Workers are ready to work with products. The workers don't want to leave. I don't want to get fired.”

Union hopes deadline will bring answers

Mike Van Buckel, president of Unifor Local 88, attended Tuesday's rally and said he supports the deadline and its potential to force GM to share its vision for the plant's future.

“I think what it means is keeping your feet to the fire and coming up with a plan,” he said. “They expect something to be done, some action, and that clock is ticking. It can't take six months. They are looking for answers.”