QUEEN’S PARK — NDP MPP for Oshawa Jennifer French says that Oshawa’s GM jobs could be saved – but only if Doug Ford and his government actually fight for them, like Michigan state leaders have.
“Michigan stood up to GM and stood up for its autoworkers. GM has responded. Jobs are being saved at Hamtramck in Michigan,” said French. “Doug Ford, however, has done nothing. He has been sitting on the sidelines since GM announced the closure of the Oshawa GM plant, refusing to fight for good jobs here in Ontario.”
Late last year, GM announced its plans to rip about 2,600 jobs out of Oshawa, along with facilities like the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. Since then, Andrea Horwath and the NDP have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with GM workers and supporters fighting to save the jobs in Oshawa, along with thousands of other Ontario jobs throughout the supply chain. Shamefully, Doug Ford and his Conservatives threw in the towel without even trying to save these critical jobs.
“When Oshawa found out about GM's decision to abandon our community – a community that had been loyal and supportive of auto manufacturing for 100 years – we were devastated. We rose up and we have been rallying ever since, because there is always hope, and good jobs are always worth the fight,” said French.
“Now that Michigan has proven leadership that fights for jobs in their community can make a difference, Doug Ford has to change his mind and finally stand up for autoworkers in Oshawa and Durham region.”