Brothers and Sisters:
- Current Active Roll – 3361
- Laid off – 399
- Trades – 341
- Apprentices – 22
- Current TPT Roll – 188
Chairpersons Message:
During this unprecedented time due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which has shut down many businesses and most social functions such as our Union meetings, it is important that we keep our members informed about plant issues as much as possible.
During the past few weeks leading up to our plant shutting down for the weeks of March 23 and March 30, 2020 our National Union President Jerry Dias and Staff have been working tirelessly around the clock with all levels of Provincial and Federal governments as well as all Corporations and Local Union Leadership regarding the safety and financial well-being of all our members.
Our Local Leadership has also been working around the clock with our Plant Manager, National Union President Jerry Dias and Staff, as well as Ford Council Chairperson John D’Agnolo and Ford Council Vice Chairperson Marc Brennan to ensure that safety measures are taken to protect our members who are required to work.
On Monday March 16, 2020 we were given notice that our plant would be on layoff the Week of March 23, 2020 during this week the Company’s planned to do a deep cleaning of our plant as well as clear out all inventory left in the plant which required approximately 1000 hourly workers in Skilled Trades and Production to remain working.
Our Plant was sent home on SWW on Thursday, March 19, 2020 and a deep cleaning of Pre-Delivery by Leadec started on Friday, March 20, 2020 and carried on until Sunday, March 22, 2020 to assure a clean sanitized area for all those who were required to work on Monday, March 23, 2020.
During the week of March 16, 2020, a departmental, seniority canvass was conducted asking for volunteers to work the week Monday, March 23, 2020 to do a deep cleaning, sanitization of every department in the Plant to make sure that our plant is safe for our members returning to work from layoff.
Chassis had 26 members on the #2 shift and 19 members on the #3 shift cleaning.
Trim had 16 members on the #2 shift and 15 members on the #3 shift cleaning.
Paint had 15 members on the #2 shift cleaning on a one shift operation.
Body had 24 members on #2 shift and 24 members on #3 shift cleaning.
MSC had 6 members cleaning on #2 shift on a one shift operation.
MP&L had 10 members on #2 shift and 10 members on #3 shift cleaning.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members and OAC salaried staff who worked during this unsettling time, and a special thanks to those who volunteered to work sanitizing our plant to ensure the safety of the rest of us.
I would also like to thank Leadec staff and members for doing an exceptional job of cleaning during this period.
Plant Lay-off:
OAC members will be receiving weekly Robo calls from Labour Relations with updates as to what is happening regarding operation needs and lay-offs.
Our members need to keep checking our Local Web site and App for current updates as to what is happening at OAC, with our monthly membership meetings suspended this is the way we will be communicating with our members.
Essential Services:
The Leadership has received numerous calls from members demanding to know why the Ontario Government has deemed the Auto Industry an essential service. This question may be better answered by your Local MP or MPP. I am assuming that our Premier is not only concerned about the health risks Covid-19 virus will have on Ontarians while taking measures to flatten the curve, I am assuming he is also concerned about the economic burden it will have on Ontarians while battling this virus and not driving our Province into a recession by shutting everything down.
Elections:
Brothers and Sisters, thank you for once again electing me to be your Plant Chairperson for another 3 years.
It has been an honor and a privilege serving this membership as an elected representative since being first elected as an Alternate Steward in the Trim Department in 1990 and most rewarding serving as Plant Chairperson since 2011.
Although this job at times is more than a challenge, with many very difficult decisions to be made that effect the entire membership, I have always put the majority of our membership before any individual needs and will continue to do so.
I would like to congratulate all of those who were acclaimed, re-elected and newly elected in this tri-annual election. Good luck to those who are in run-off elections.
To those who were not successful in your re-election, thank you for your hard work and dedication to our membership while serving in these offices.
To those members who have nominated themselves for the first time in our Local Union elections, thank you, don’t lose faith and don’t give up! Our membership needs new advocates for our future.
Good and Welfare:
My thoughts and prayers go out to Shawn White’s family. Shawn will be missed by all. Rest in Peace brother White, we will miss our Rock.
To our members, stay safe and practice safe distancing, isolate if necessary Covid-19 is not a joke, this virus needs to be taken seriously by all of us, we must do our part to help flatten the curve.
In Solidarity,
Bob Scott
OAC Plant Chairperson
Unifor Local 707
905-845-2511 ext. 3350
