GM Canada cuts a shift at Oshawa plant, putting up to 1,200 autoworkers out of work
GM Canada will eliminate one of three shifts at its Oshawa plant on Friday, a move that will cost up to 1,200 workers across the supply chain their jobs. The union and provincial government say supports are in place.
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By Torontoer Staff
GM Canada will cut one of three shifts at its Oshawa assembly plant on Friday, a company decision that will leave as many as 1,200 workers across the plant and the wider supply chain without work. GM confirmed roughly 500 of those people are its direct employees.
The reduction returns the plant to two shifts. Seniority rules mean higher-seniority workers will be reassigned to remaining shifts, while lower-seniority members across all three shifts will be laid off.
What GM says and what the company is offering
GM issued a statement saying it has worked with the union to provide supports for affected workers, including separation packages, retirement support and other benefits. A spokesperson, Ariane Souza Pereira, said the plant will continue preparations to build the next generation of gas-powered full-size pickups.
The company is also shifting some production capacity, adding 250 temporary roles at its Fort Wayne, Indiana plant, which, like Oshawa, builds the Chevrolet Silverado. GM had announced the shift cut last May and delayed the layoffs previously scheduled for November until the end of January.
Union response and supports for laid-off workers
Jeff Gray, president of Unifor Local 222, said the layoffs will be devastating for many members. He told reporters the union had pressed GM to reverse the decision and continues to push for more local work to remain in Oshawa.
We did everything we could, we’ve made our arguments to General Motors,
Jeff Gray, Unifor Local 222 president
Gray said the union will expand action-centre programming to help displaced workers transition, including retraining, resume-writing workshops and basic computer skills sessions. He estimated the final layoff count dropped from an earlier projection of about 2,000 to roughly 1,100 to 1,200 after in-plant representation reduced the number.
Political and trade context
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the provincial government has a plan to support laid-off workers, including opportunities in defence, life sciences and other sectors. He urged the federal government to do more to support the auto sector ahead of a scheduled review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
We’re going to make sure they have opportunities in the defence sector, life science sector, other areas, and we’ll be there for them 24/7,
Doug Ford, Ontario premier
GM’s earlier announcement of the shift reduction cited forecasted demand and an evolving trade environment. Observers and union leaders have linked the decision to changes in cross-border trade conditions and tariffs that have affected the auto sector.
What comes next for workers and the community
Workers scheduled to complete their final shifts on Friday will face immediate uncertainty. The union intends to accelerate retraining and action-centre supports, while provincial officials point to alternative hiring streams in government-supported sectors. GM says separation packages and other supports will be available.
Unifor leadership at the provincial and national levels faces pressure from local members to secure longer-term manufacturing work in Oshawa. Trade negotiations and the upcoming CUSMA review could shape future investment decisions by automotive manufacturers operating in Canada.
For layoff-affected employees, the transition will include applying for available supports, exploring retraining options, and pursuing opportunities outside the automotive sector. Union officials say they will continue lobbying all levels of government and GM to protect jobs and attract new work to the Oshawa plant.
The cutback at Oshawa is part of a broader readjustment in North American vehicle production. While the immediate impact is concentrated in Oshawa and its supply chain, the decision underscores the wider pressures facing Canada's auto manufacturing base.
The union and provincial government said they will continue working with laid-off workers over the coming weeks to connect them with supports and retraining. GM confirmed separation and retirement packages will be offered to affected employees.
GM CanadaOshawaUniforlayoffsauto industry
