GM announced in November last year that it would wind down production at its Oshawa plant, which has been in operation since 1953.

Unionized workers at the General Motors assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont., are back to work after holding a sit-down protest over the planned closure of the facility.

The latest battle to save thousands of auto jobs in Ontario is but one of many Canada's largest private sector union will likely have to fight as automation, technology and globalization increasingly change the face of manufacturing, experts say.