Union leaders representing workers at General Motors’ CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, are warning of extreme measures if the company attempts to remove equipment from the facility, as doubts grow about the future of the electric vehicle manufacturing site.
In a message circulated to members, Unifor Local 88 Plant Chair Mike Van Boekel issued a strong statement, emphasizing the union’s determination to keep the plant operational. He made it clear that any attempt by the company to remove assets from the building would be met with immediate resistance. “Nothing comes in and nothing goes out,” Van Boekel said, highlighting the seriousness of the union’s stance and its commitment to protecting jobs.
The strong language has raised concerns among observers. Mike Tucker, a business and economics professor at Fanshawe College, believes such a public declaration suggests that the union may be aware of developments behind the scenes that have not yet been disclosed to the public.
“When a union openly talks about blocking access to a facility, it usually means something significant is happening internally,” Tucker explained. “There is a considerable amount of new and valuable machinery inside that plant. It raises questions about whether another automaker or operation might be interested in repurposing the equipment.”
Tucker added that there may be concerns within the union that GM could begin relocating some of the new machinery and infrastructure to other facilities, a move that would further signal the end of operations in Ingersoll.
The comments come shortly after a meeting involving Unifor representatives, Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie, and Canada’s Industry Minister, Melanie Joly. According to Unifor, Joly and her staff expressed support for the workers and the community, saying that ongoing engagement gives reason for cautious optimism.
Mayor Petrie said he remains hopeful that negotiations between all parties will lead to a positive outcome. However, he also expressed concern over the possibility of disruption or unrest in the community, stressing the importance of safety and peaceful resolution.
The CAMI facility underwent a significant transformation in 2021, shifting to electric vehicle production at an estimated cost of $2 billion. Roughly $500 million of that investment was provided by Canadian taxpayers, including funding from both the federal and Ontario governments.
Last month, General Motors announced that production of the BrightDrop electric delivery vehicle would be halted due to weak demand. On October 23, Minister Joly gave GM a 15-day deadline to outline its future plans for the Ingersoll plant. As of now, no official update has been released.
“If the company decides to shut down operations permanently, the focus will likely turn to the massive public investment that was made here,” Tucker said. “From what we can see right now, the outlook is not encouraging. This could very well mark the end of CAMI as it currently exists.”