GM Oshawa Layoffs 2025: 700 Workers Cut as U.S. Tariffs Hit Auto Sector
GM Oshawa will lay off 700 workers at its Oshawa Assembly Plant this fall, according to the union representing plant employees. The move comes as the company scales back from three shifts to two—a decision the union links directly to new U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles.
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Shift Cuts Tied to Cross-Border Trade Tensions
Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray said the layoffs affect not just Oshawa workers but also an estimated 1,500 people across the supply chain. The plant currently builds Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks for North American markets.
GM spokesperson Marie Binette confirmed the shift reduction will impact around 700 workers, though she did not label them as layoffs.
“We are committed to supporting employees through the transition,” Binette said in a written statement.
Unifor National President Lana Payne strongly criticized the move, calling it “reckless” and harmful to Canada’s auto sector.
“We will not allow GM to barter Canadian jobs to gain Donald Trump’s favour,” she added.
Political Leaders Respond as Auto Industry Braces
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed sympathy for the affected workers and stressed the government is fighting to protect jobs and investment.
“If not, there will be consequences for those companies,” Carney said.
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He plans to meet President Trump in Washington on Tuesday to discuss ongoing trade disputes.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the situation “tough,” and emphasized GM’s renewed commitment to truck production in Oshawa. Opposition leaders urged the province to take stronger action.
“We cannot just ‘wait and see’ while these companies take a page out of Trump’s playbook,” said NDP Leader Marit Stiles.
Plant Recalibration and Buyer Impact
The Oshawa facility will reportedly focus more on producing trucks for the Canadian market, reducing exports to the U.S. However, some analysts worry this could weaken long-term demand and trigger further shift losses.
Industry expert Flavio Volpe encouraged Canadians to look for VIN numbers starting with 2, which indicate vehicles made in Canada.
“When Canadians don’t buy these trucks at the same rate as Americans, that’s when shifts slip,” he told CBC.
Union Calls Out Broken Promises
Chris Waugh, Unifor’s plant chairperson, said GM and government leaders promised stable jobs and production when they reopened GM Oshawa in 2021.
“We will not sit idly by as that promise is eroded one shift at a time,” Waugh said.
Do you think the federal and provincial governments should pressure GM to reverse the shift cuts? Let us know your thoughts.
More…
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/oshawa-general-motors-plant-cutting-jobs-union-says-1.7524665
- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-general-motors-reduce-shifts-oshawa-plant-trump-tariffs
- https://www.thestar.com/business/gm-canada-to-cut-shift-at-oshawa-assembly-plant-union-calls-move-reckless/article_4a274e37-a069-5353-8280-7cd2508a6645.html
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