Chrysler feeder plants bracing for fallout from assembly plant changes

CTV Windsor: Workers react Windsor Assembly Plant employees paint a very somber picture of the plant floor. Rich Garton explains.

The looming changes at the Windsor Assembly Plant are expected to impact thousands of jobs in Windsor-Essex.

That prediction from Jerry Logan, who is the independents, parts and suppliers representative for Unifor Local 444.

Logan says up to seven local facilities with members of their local are tied to the Windsor Assembly Plant. But he adds there are many other facilities who also manufacture parts for WAP and other auto manufacturers that will be impacted.

“Spin off jobs included I firmly believe and I've been doing this 10 years, devoted my life to it, we're looking at at least 10,000 lost jobs if this shift goes away,” says Logan.

Fiat Chrysler announced Thursday the plant is eliminating the third shift on Sept. 30, 2019, impacting 1,500 employees.

It's expected most of the feeder companies will follow suit and let go of a third shift.

“I know we're the fastest growing economy according to (mayor) Drew Dilkens but when you're diversifying with low paying jobs, it doesn't have the same effect,” adds Logan.

Many of the FCA employees leaving Windsor Assembly were in a somber mood Friday and said the news from FCA was disappointing.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles released a statement on Thursday, saying the decision was made “in order to better align production with global demand.”

The announcement follows months of slumping sales of the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Grand Caravan, both built at Windsor Assembly.

Sales of the Pacifica this year are down 54 per cent in Canada through February and 24 per cent in the U.S. Sales of the Grand Caravan are down more than 20 per cent in both countries over the same period

FCA also announced Friday the two week shutdown next month has been moved up to the first two weeks of April.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles released a statement on Thursday, saying the decision was made “in order to better align production with global demand.”

The plant, which employs over 6,000 people, underwent a $2-billion retooling in 2015 to start building the Chrysler Pacifica.

When operating at full volume, the Windsor plant produces nearly 1,500 minivans per day.

There has been a third production shift at Windsor Assembly since the early 1990’s.