Brothers and Sisters:
Summer Vacation Shutdown:
Our Plant will be on shutdown from Monday June 29, 2020 to Monday July 13, 2020. I would to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Safe and Happy well-deserved Summer Shutdown. Remember to practice social distancing while on vacation and carry your safe work practices home and on vacation with you.
On Friday June 26, 2020 I met with Leadec manager Gord McKay to discuss the cleaning plan of our plant during shutdown. While the Plant is on Shutdown Leadec members will be conducting another deep cleaning of our Plant including power washing the washrooms and locker rooms.
Oakville Assembly Plant at Risk of Closing?
Late June 15 , 2020, I was sent a video and a media release article from an auto analyst claiming that Ford Oakville Assembly Plant was at risk of closing due to the possible cancellation of the Ford Edge and the Lincoln Nautilus moving to China in 2023.
I started receiving many texted messages, phone calls and emails from our members in panic mode wanting to know what was going on, is this Fake News or Fact?
I contacted our National Union Director of Auto Dino Chiodo to find out if Ford Motor Company has had any dialogue with the National Union with regards to this issue. Dino assured me that Ford has NOT shared this type of information with the National Union.
Early June 16, 2020, Marc Brennan and I contacted Ryan Kantautus V.P. Human Resources Ford of Canada and talked to him about this LEAK. Ryan indicated that Ford Motor Company did not make any formal announcement to the media regarding their operation plans. Ryan stated that he could not confirm or denied that any of this information true or false.
On June 16, 2020 our National President Jerry Dias has a conference call with our Ford Council master bargaining Committee to discuss the Leak of this information and the devastating impact this would have on the auto industry in Canada as well as the Community and surrounding Communities. The lose of these jobs in Canada would be a shame, Jerry stressed the fact that the National Union was preparing for the battle of their lives, to put all their strengths and focuses on securing a viable future for Oakville Assembly Complex. Jerry reconfirmed that the National Union will stand in Solidarity with the Ford Bargaining Committees across Canada and send a loud clear message to the Ford Motor Company, Oakville Unifor Local 707 must have a product allocation, we will accept nothing less.
John D’Agnola: President of Local 200 and Chairperson of Ford Council stated that the Ford Council focus will be on securing a product allocation for Oakville, he also stated that Local 200 members stand united with Local 707 members to make sure this happens.
The uncertainties the world has brought to us due to Covid -19 pandemic creating devastating financial burdens on the world could not have happened at a worse time for Unifor.
2020 Unifor/Ford Bargaining:
Our Local Bargaining will begin shortly after shutdown and Ford Bargaining will begin in mid-August 2020.
As of this date we are still unsure what 2020 bargaining will look like due to the restrictions around Covid – 19.
The National Union will be setting up a Communications team to keep our members updated/informed during the bargaining process.
Our Local Union will keep our members informed as best we possibly can as updates come to us.
In Solidarity,
Bob Scott
OAC Plant Chairperson
office: 905-845-2511 ext. 3350
cell: 905-483-1475
