GM cuts 1,400 Windsor jobs
Mon May 12, 2008

By: Torstar News Service

OSHAWA – General Motors has announced it is closing its transmission plant in Windsor, Ont., by mid-2010. The factory employs 1,400 people.

GM said today the closure will occur when current production mandates expire for the four-speed automatic transmissions the plant produces.

"Despite efforts and discussions with GM's labour and government partners, the company has determined that its North American market outlook and product plans, including the shift from four-speed to more fuel-efficient six-speed transmissions, do not offer replacement products for the Windsor plant in the 2010 timeframe," a statement from the largest North American automaker said.

"Accordingly the plant will close in the second quarter of 2010."

Built in 1963, the Windsor plant builds front-wheel-drive transmissions shipped to plants in the United States and Mexico for use in medium-sized and compact GM vehicles including the Chevrolet Malibu and Cobalt, Pontiac G5 and G6, and Saturn Vue and Aura.

GM Canada president Arturo Elias said the automaker has "worked extensively with our labour and government partners but have been led to the unavoidable conclusion that there are no available replacement products in the relevant timeframe for this location."

The Canadian Auto Workers union said it has been in labour negotiations with GM since Thursday on the Windsor plant, where GM announced last year that a new transmission would not be produced.