The True Post (Web News) Approximately 2,200 employees working at General Motors’ Oshawa plant will lose their jobs this month.
The move comes as GM announced it was eliminating the third shift at the plant, mainly due to heavy tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump that are putting pressure on Canada’s auto industry.
TFT Global Inc., a major GM supplier, said it will lay off 245 of its **873 hourly employees on Sept. 26. Three more employees are also being laid off in the “other” category. However, the company’s **100 permanent (scalari) employees** at the plant will not be affected. Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray said TFT is likely to extend the notice until early November because GM plans to eliminate the third shift around the same time, but the date is not yet clear. “We regret that we cannot provide all the answers to employees at this time. This is an uncertain situation,” Gray said.
According to Jeremy Herman, an employment lawyer in Toronto, it is common for companies to extend notice. He advised that employees be familiar with their collective bargaining agreement, as it sets out their rights. An employee inside the plant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was tension in the factory:
“There is a small chance that jobs might be saved, but any new positions will likely be at a lower salary than current earnings.” Pressure on Oshawa’s auto sector has been mounting since May 2025, when GM announced it would return to a two-shift system. According to the union, GM’s change could affect **at least 750 GM employees** and another **1,500 supply chain workers**.
US President Trump imposed a **25% tariff** on non-US parts and components imported from Canada in April. The tariffs on steel and aluminium were later doubled to **50%**. According to GM spokeswoman Jennifer Wright, the company wants to create a “sustainable manufacturing environment that enables us to build more trucks in Canada for Canadian customers.” According to Flavio Volpe, president of the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, any reduction in GM production immediately affects suppliers, which increases unrest among the working class. “Nobody chose the auto industry thinking they would fight over policy. We just want to make things that people want to buy,”
