The new president of the Canadian Auto Workers union says he's disappointed, but not surprised, by the latest auto industry job cuts as Ford Motor Co. phases out a third shift at its body and paint operation in Oakville, Ont., putting about 500 people out of a job.
This cutbacks, which kick in Oct. 1, follow Ford's earlier decision to eliminate a third shift at the plant's final assembly operation.
CAW president Ken Lewenza said the third shift at the body and paint operation was in place to support the additional assembly shift.
"When Ford Motor Co. decided to delay the third shift, it became obvious to us that the third shift support was going to be taken out," he said.
Ford hired about 350 people for the assembly shift and another 150 transferred to Oakville from Windsor, Ont., but they were never put to work.
"We're working with Ford to reduce the pain on our members - trying to provide some restructuring benefit - we're in the process of doing that now," said Lewenza.
The union president also said it was impossible to predict when a third shift may be implemented at the facility west of Toronto.
"The U.S. economy is crumbling... sales are dropping almost daily... so we got to get that U.S. economy back and running because the slowdown is causing us real problems for us here in Canada."
The federal government recently announced it would provide $80 million to help reopen the mothballed Essex engine plant in Windsor and save about 300 jobs.
The engine plant closed last year, resulting in the loss of about 900 jobs.
Lewenza said there would no financial support from the federal or provincial governments for the Oakville operation.
"This isn't about financial support today at Ford Oakville, it's really about the market - and the reality of the U.S. economy."
