GM employees rally outside CAMI plant in Ingersoll

Hundreds of General Motors workers outside the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont. Wednesday are calling on the company to save hundreds of jobs.

This comes after last week’s announcement that the plant would no longer be involved in the BrightDrop electric delivery van production – It’s key product.

Mike Van Boekel, plant chair of Unifor Local 88 says workers want answers on the future of production at the CAMI plant and want the company to find a new vehicle for production.

“Disappointing. Very frustrated. Angry — we’ve got a great work force, we’ve been here almost 40 years. I think we should be here for 40 more,” Van Boekel said.

Last week, General Motors announced it is cancelling the BrightDrop program at CAMI due to market demand and poor sales, leaving around 1,200 people out of work.

READ MORE: Stellantis shifting Brampton, Ont., Jeep production to Illinois

BrightDrop vans are the last vehicles to be built at the plant.

“We had a really good meeting with the federal government last Thursday in Ottawa, so they understand, they have been trying to put some pressure on GM as well to come up with hopefully a high volume product, get more investment back in the plant and get everybody back to work, hopefully in the next 18 months,” Boekel said.

Ingersoll mayor, Brian Petrie says CAMI is a major piece of the local community and he is talking with all levels of government about support.

“We’re on the ground, we know what it means to our local economy and the region, and certainly to our residents that live and work here,” Petrie said. “We’ve got to put that message up and make sure they understand it.”

Meanwhile in Brampton, a similar rally after Stellantis announced its plans to relocate the Jeep Compass program from Brampton to the U.S.

READ MORE: General Motors Canada fined $275k following St. Catharines workplace injury