NDP Windsor MPPs Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West), Percy Hatfield (Windsor-Tecumseh) and Taras Natyshak (Essex), made the following statement in response to today’s loss of 1,500 auto worker jobs at the Fiat Chrysler Windsor assembly plant:
“Today, our thoughts are with the 1,500 auto workers and their families, whose livelihoods and financial security have been ripped away. We worry, too, about the additional jobs along the supply chain, and in feeder plants, that will also be impacted.
Despite knowing, for nearly 10 months, that these 1,500 jobs were on the chopping block, the Doug Ford Conservatives chose to do nothing, ignoring any possible solutions for shoring up the long-term prospects of Ontario’s auto industry.
Not only did Ford scrap the electric vehicle rebate program, he refused to work with Fiat Chrysler Windsor, Unifor and the auto workers to secure a new product for the plant that would build on their full flex line, and ignored repeated calls to develop a provincial auto strategy.
We will continue fighting for the Ford government to invest in a new product, support a national auto sector strategy and support workers in the upcoming round of bargaining.
Windsorites deserve a government that has their backs, one that fights to keep our community’s auto jobs, not one that simply throws in the towel.”