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CAMI assembly plant layoffs pushed back

Production of the General Motors' CAMI Automotive facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, is shown in this Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 file photo.
Production of the General Motors' CAMI Automotive facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, is shown in this Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 file photo. Dave Chidley/Canadian Press

Layoffs at the CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll have been pushed back, and the number of those out of work reduced to less than 400.

“All anyone’s been told is that it won’t be before the end of August,” said Mike Van Boekel, CAW chairperson of Unifor Local 88.

READ MORE: Layoff notices issued for 625 workers at CAMI

Back in March, 625 employees received 16-week layoff notices saying they could be out of work as early as July 3rd. But Van Boekel said the plant is busier than expected.

“This week and next week, they’re building out the end of the terrain before it heads to Mexico,” he said.

“So we got to get all the orders filled. And just the new [Chevy] Equinox… it’s very popular, and they want to make sure we have enough people to run it.”
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READ MORE: GM to invest $450 million in Cami assembly plant in Ingersoll: report

When the final GMC Terrain vehicle rolls off the line next Thursday (July 13th), it’ll be left producing just the Chevy Equinox.

“We have bargaining coming up in September, so we’re hoping to come up with some new ideas to retain people,” said Van Boekel, adding he’s confident in the plant’s odds of expanding the current build or bringing in new work.

In early January, union officials said layoffs at the plant weren’t expected due to the strong success of the Chevy Equinox.

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