Dedicated Training And Employment Services Action Centre Open For Affected GM Workers

The Ontario government is putting people first by supporting workers laid off by the restructuring of the General Motors Oshawa plant by providing them with training and services to get back to work quickly.

Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, along with GM and Unifor opened an Action Centre that will give impacted GM employees local, targeted training and support to help them get back into the workforce.

“I want the people of Oshawa to know that our government will always stand with you,” said Minister McNaughton. “Our goal is to make sure the workers at GM receive support to access skills and training so they can move forward during this difficult time. We want to do everything to help them get back to work as quickly as possible.”

“The City has made it a priority to work with GM, our post-secondary partners and all levels of government to help support the affected workers and their families. The action centre is an important step, providing retraining and education to help our people transition to new, good paying jobs,” added Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter.

Minister McNaughton also attended The Durham Region Auto Workers – Job Fair. The fair featured 40 community and employer organizations, including Employment Ontario that will connect impacted GM and parts supplier workers with training and job opportunities.

Ontario is investing $531,700 to help affected GM workers through its Rapid Re-employment Training Service.

“GM is working closely with the Ontario government, Unifor, Durham College, the city of Oshawa, and some 45 GTA employers to deliver transition support, generous retirement packages or new job opportunities for our Oshawa Assembly employees,” said Scott Bell, president and managing director, GM Canada. “With the transformation to a parts manufacturing operation and our new CTC McLaughlin Advanced Technology Track at the Oshawa plant next year, GM expects to remain one of Oshawa’s largest employers for many decades to come.”

“The government’s investment in the Action Centre is a vital one and will provide workers with the employment and retraining assistance they need,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor has ensured that the Action Centre is peer-led, so that the form of support workers will receive is genuine, meaningful and much more likely to be successful.”

Ontario’s Rapid Re-employment and Training Service and local action centres are dedicated to connecting job-seekers with immediate supports and quick access to training for good, quality jobs.