Union discussions over Windsor plant closure await response
by CMO Staff
Unifor held high-level discussions with Nemak representatives to find a resolution to a dispute over contracts
WINDSOR, Ont. – Unifor leadership held high-level discussions with Nemak representatives and submitted an offer to resolve an ongoing dispute over the company’s plant closure announcement.
The provider of lightweighting solutions for the global automotive industry made the decision to cease manufacturing operations at its plant in Windsor, Ont., by mid-2020. The plant represents approx. 1% of Nemak’s consolidated revenues.
Nemak said the decision to close the plant is a result of the early phase-out of an export program with a customer in China, which is expected to bring capacity utilization at the plant to less than 10% by 2020.
The head of Canada’s largest union in the private sector, Jerry Dias, said the union provided the company an offer and is waiting for a response.
Yesterday, Justice Terrance Patterson of the Superior Court of Ontario urged the union and the company to make every effort to resolve the dispute before the parties have to return to court on Friday September 13.
“This morning’s discussion between Unifor representatives and Nemak is a continuation of the union’s efforts to reach a resolution to this dispute,” said John D’Agnolo, Unifor Local 200 president. “Workers are asking only for the company to live up to the collective agreement.”
Unifor represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
