BRAMPTON — The Ontario government is investing $751,607 to support 3,914 laid-off automotive employees impacted by the recent closure of Stellantis automotive assembly plants in Peel and Durham regions. The funding will allow Unifor National to run action centres in Brampton and Oshawa that will connect the impacted workers and their families with much needed supports and services.
“As Ontario leads the world in electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing, our government is proud to work with our partners to ensure workers have the opportunities and skills to thrive in this rapidly growing sector,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “These action centres will help Peel and Durham region workers develop the highly in-demand skills for lifelong careers – landing better jobs with bigger paycheques for their families.”
Our government will always have workers’ backs.
Through our more than $750K investment, these @UniforTheUnion action centres will help Peel & Durham region workers develop the in-demand skills for lifelong careers – landing better jobs with bigger paycheques for their families. https://t.co/s5xDtZ2Njg
— David Piccini (@DavidPiccini) February 21, 2024
The new Unifor Action Centre locations in Brampton and Oshawa will operate until at least January 2025 and will offer skills development programs, personalized career counselling, networking opportunities and other services to workers impacted by the recent plant closures.
“Our goal throughout the EV transition is to ensure auto and auto parts workers are supported every step of the way with strong collective agreements and the kind of vital peer-led services this Action Centre will provide,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We are pleased to work with the Government of Ontario to open this centre to all union members across the supply chain affected by the retooling of the Brampton Assembly Plant who made it a successful, profitable and world-class facility for decades and ensure everyone is included in the next chapter of Canada’s auto industry.”
Ontario invests more than $1 billion each year in employment services and training programs like Better Jobs Ontario and the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to help workers train for well-paying and meaningful careers in their communities. These investments are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to attract, support, and protect workers, making Ontario the best place to work, live and raise a family.
Quick Facts
- The primary Unifor Action Centre is located at 23 Regan Road, Unit 1 in Brampton.
- The secondary satellite centre is located at 1425 Phillip Murray Avenue, Unit 1 in Oshawa.
- There were nearly 121,600 jobs recently going unfilled in the Toronto area.
- With 700 locations province-wide, the Employment Ontario network offers a range of services and supports that help job seekers find training and job opportunities and businesses find the talent they need.
- Unifor Action Centre, Employment Ontario, Better Jobs Ontario, and Skills Development Fund Training Stream are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Quotes
“The Stellantis BAP (Brampton Assembly Plant) has been a manufacturing powerhouse since 1986 and on December 21st of 2023 the last Demon rolled off the line ending production of our iconic muscle cars. When we talk about the emotional part of the Electric Vehicle transition it is not only the end of our iconic muscle cars for our members, but also the end for many jobs in the Independent Parts Supplier Sector (IPS). These members are left with a great unknown and a big question of what their future holds. Therefore, it is only right that we all collectively work very hard together to ensure everyone receives the support required to come out positively on the other side of this massive industry transformation.”
– Vito Beato
President, Unifor local 1285
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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