[projekktor id=’15386′]
(Update)
Last September, Ford Canada invested $700-million in the Oakville plant — so it could be equipped to build the redesigned Ford Edge. Now Ford has announced it is hiring one-thousand new employees. But there are more than 500 people just down the road who are losing their employment and would love to get those jobs.
During the recession, we were used to Canadians losing out on jobs in favour of cheaper labour abroad internationally. What we are not used to is Canadians losing out on jobs to people literally five minutes away.
When a big company like Ford says it’s hiring 1,000 new hourly workers — it’s good news.
Dave Thomas is President of Local 707: “We’re hiring 1,000 people and I can attest that the phones have been ringing off the wall – everybody’s lining up to get a job.”
“I’m actually a new hire myself and to have this opportunity especially at a young age is a blessing.”
“I’m actually one of the first group of a thousand people and I’m really excited to be there and I think it’s a good thing.”
Ford Canada is making room to ramp up production of the new generation 2015 Edge SUV and they’re keeping all production under the same roof.
Dave Thomas: “Work is coming back into the plant that will build on site and it cuts down on costs for Ford and it’s a bonus for everybody.”
Everybody, except those who work here at A-C, making the parts that Ford will now make in-house.
Automodular Corporation, which is located right here in Oakville, has been assembling auto parts for Ford for the last eight years. Their contract was not renewed for this December and as a result about 525 people will lose their jobs. Now, they can apply to work for Ford just like everyone else. But they have to write a standardized, 6-hour long test to qualify, and that is not going over well.
Angus MacDonald, President of Local 1256: “Ford’s bringing in record profits because you’re doing the job your doing and then you get this test from an American consulting firm that says you don’t live up to the standards as an auto worker.”
“They’re saying there’s going to be jobs at Ford, but we aren’t seeing them yet.”
About 300 Automodular employees wrote the test — about 50 passed. Those who run the Unifor Local 1256 are doing what they can to help.
Angus MacDonald: “Hopefully have an action centre for that many people out of a job. It’s a big impact on the communities for the families where they live and it really is immeasurable.”
Mr. MacDonald told me that it is an extra slap in the face for those who work at Automodular who are former Ford employees who were let go during the recession, only to be told here in 2014 that they don’t qualify to work there. We corresponded with Ford Canada via email and they said these are highly coveted positions, with wages starting at $20 per hour and going up to $34 per hour after 10 years. And they literally have thousands of applications.
