Title: GM Shifts Production from Oshawa to Fort Wayne, Indiana

General Motors is moving production from its Oshawa, Ontario, plant to its facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This shift includes the addition of 250 temporary jobs in Fort Wayne to build Chevrolet Silverados, while production in Oshawa is being reduced. Rich LeTourneau, the bargaining chairman at United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2209 in Fort Wayne, expressed his views on the situation.

"I respect Canadian unions, I respect the Mexican union. We didn't raise our hand and say … 'I'll take what you guys got.' That decision was made way above our head," LeTourneau said. He emphasized that increased production at the Fort Wayne plant means job security for his members.

The decision to add jobs in Fort Wayne comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on finished vehicles and some auto parts. This tariff targets Canadian-made vehicles, which are a significant part of the auto industry. In response to the changing production landscape, GM Canada announced it would cut one of three shifts at its Oshawa Assembly, resulting in approximately 750 layoffs from its workforce of 3,000.

Both the Oshawa and Fort Wayne plants produce light-duty Chevy Silverado trucks, with Oshawa also manufacturing heavy-duty Silverados and Fort Wayne producing GMC Sierra pickups. Jeff Gray, president of Unifor Local 222, which represents Oshawa workers, commented on the competitive nature of the situation.

"What if we had the opportunity in Canada to increase our volume or get different investments? Of course, we would be after that," Gray said. He noted that the tariff policy has created a divide between the UAW and Unifor, despite their shared interests.

"It's not that we're angry with UAW. They're our brothers, they're our sisters. At the same time, we compete for business. The playing field right now is not very level, and that concerns us," Gray added.

The Canadian auto industry has faced significant challenges in recent decades, with the Oshawa plant's workforce shrinking from a peak of 23,000 in the 1980s to around 4,000 by 2018. The plant was closed in December 2019 but reopened in November 2021 after a $1.2 billion investment to resume pickup truck production.

LeTourneau mentioned that GM is unlikely to disclose how much production volume is increasing at Fort Wayne. He recalled the bitterness surrounding the previous closure of the Oshawa plant, stating, "I remember it vividly."

Oshawa's identity is closely tied to the auto industry, but the city is evolving. The top employers now include healthcare, retail, and education, with manufacturing accounting for only about three percent of jobs.

In Fort Wayne, GM is the third-largest employer, with around 4,000 workers. Unlike Oshawa, the city does not have the same historical ties to the auto industry. Rich Beck, commissioner of Allen County, noted that GM complements the community's economy.

Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter is actively seeking to maintain the city's manufacturing sector. He is in discussions with GM Canada about the future of the Oshawa plant, emphasizing the need for innovation and productivity.

While uncertainty looms over Oshawa's auto sector, the tariffs have positively impacted Fort Wayne. Beck reported an increase in inquiries from foreign companies interested in relocating to the area, suggesting that the tariffs may be attracting attention.

LeTourneau expressed optimism about the future of the temporary jobs in Fort Wayne, believing they will become permanent as demand for manufacturing jobs continues to grow.

As the auto industry navigates these changes, the dynamics between U.S. and Canadian operations remain complex, with both sides vying for stability and growth in a challenging environment.