Unifor: GM threat to ramp up Mexican production is ‘slap in the face’ for Canada
TORONTO — General Motors said Thursday it was backed into a corner when it told Unifor it may shift more production of one of its best-selling vehicles to Mexico, a move the union’s president said is tantamount to an attack on Canada.
The company’s warning to the union comes as a strike at its southwestern Ontario operation stretches into a fourth week. Both sides refuse to budge on the demand of job security at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont., which assembles GM’s Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicle.
A GM spokesman — who did not want to be named because the company does not like to comment during negotiations — said in an interview that the company sees no alternatives but to explore production alternatives and said as much to Unifor president Jerry Dias on Wednesday.
The company’s position is that it can’t agree to the union’s demand to guarantee investments and job security because they’re part of long-term trade issues.