Cost of retooling Chrysler’s Windsor, Ont., plant $2.1B: union
by Canadian Manufacturing Staff
Unifor, citing comments made by FCA chief executive Sergio Marchionne, said investment will reach $2 billion
FCA US LLC’s plant in Windsor, Ont. PHOTO FCA
WINDSOR, Ont.—The union representing workers at the FCA US LLC plant in Windsor, Ont., that builds Chrysler and Ram minivans said the cost of retooling the facility will be about $2 billion.
Unifor, citing comments made by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) chief executive Sergio Marchionne at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, said the investment is needed to retool the plant to build the next generation minivan, including a hybrid variant.
“Nothing is more valuable to a company than a skilled and dedicated workforce,” Unifor national president Jerry Dias said in a statement.
“With this announcement, Chrysler is recognizing that the plant where it launched the minivan is the ideal place to bring the vehicle in the modern era.”
Dias called on the provincial and federal governments to work with labour and industry to develop an auto strategy “so Canada can build on a spate of recent investment announcements to help ensure a stable future” for the industry here.
“Strong communities and bright futures for our young people means we need to create more good jobs in this country,” Dias said. “We all have a role in making that happen.”
This week, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union said the automaker is looking for hundreds of electricians for the retooling project.
