Oshawa Plant to Lose 1000 Jobs

[super60]

Thanks everyone for your support , much appreciated :-) A couple of questions have been asked about Oshawa so I will do my best to answer . The current construction going on is the demolition of two old paint shops , the first being from our truck plant ( production moved to Mexico approx. 6 years ago ) and the second being one of our old car plant paint shops , they've been shut down for a number of years and it was just time to dismantle them.

The second issue that I get asked a lot is why is GM moving the Camaro ? I'm really not in a position to answer or comment on the rhyme or reason ! But I do fully understand this business and know that products reach their end build cycle , some are totally refreshed from the ground up as is the case of the 6thgen and some are totally shut down , I get this and accept how things are done.

We've had a great run with the 5thgen , and I for one am extremely proud and honored to have been a part of your build team , we know the end is coming and will continue to build your Camaros with pride and passion until the last one rolls off the line on November 20th .

All any of us want ( especially ) the younger workers who are just starting out is a replacement product for the Camaro , something that will add to our mix of vehicle's . Everyone knows we can build world class products and having an additional vehicle will at least form a foundation to proceed into 2020 and beyond .

Again I don't want to get into a Canada vs USA debate , we all want to work and raise our families regardless of where we live , GM has been in my family since 1918 & has provided for four generations of the Judge clan and all of us are proud of the products General Motors builds be they Canadian or American assembled .

My time is also coming to an end here at the plant & I hope future generations of workers will carry the torch for GM , and along with their fellow workers will continue to build the best quality vehicle's for our great customers the world over .

Thanks for allowing me to rant this Sunday morning & everyone have a wonderful week

Mike Judge
Super60

[BLU DUCE]

I my self think that Oshawa has built one of the finest muscle Camaros I have ever driven. I have been to the Oshawa plant and done the tour. St Catherines engine plant. And I will be back this year for the final build of the 5th Gen to be built and the beginning of the 6th Gen. in Canada. I was also at Oshawa last year for the Wind Tunnel get together. The club that I belong to Upstate C 5 has attended all these events.

I would personnelly like the thank all of the hard & long hours the designers & the workers in the Oshawa plant for building me such an awesome car. My son bought a 2010 LS3 Summit White. And said to me dad Why don't you buy one. I told him at being 65 what the hell do I want with a new Camaro. Well I wound up buying a IBM 1SS/RS and could not be any happier.

I have had so much fun with this car and the people I have met. We have members in our club From Canada & they are a great bunch op friendly people. I just can't keep up with drinking with them LOL.

I have spent so much money since buying this car and getting the mod addiction. I love going to the shows cruises. If it wasn't for being 70 I would probaply buy a 6th Gen.

Again Thank You everyone that was envoled in the build of this great car.

[SSMY1LE]

Originally Posted by gnturboray

You mean Texans you dumbass!!! Btw Mexico is part of the Americas too.

"Dumbass" ?
Do you seriously think I was under the impression Texas is in Mexico ?

I case you don't get it, it was just a small attemp at humour. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it a well fairly well known fact that there are more than a few Mexicans that have crossed the river into Texas ?

Didn't intend to offend anyone so if I did, as a true Canadian, I can offer my appoligies and say "Sorry Eh"

BTW Mike, as always you are a great example of the fine workers in Oshawa !!

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by Vroom_vroom

Everyone is equal, everyone gets the same pay. For the quick and dirty head line of it, do some digging. There is a lot of the ideology that is rooted there.

in communism there is no money. your thinking of socialism. technically, there has never been a communist nation. at least not economically. unions began with the industrial revolution in Europe when massive numbers of people began entering the workforce.

[stmbtwilli]

Originally Posted by super60

Thanks everyone for your support , much appreciated :-) A couple of questions have been asked about Oshawa so I will do my best to answer . The current construction going on is the demolition of two old paint shops , the first being from our truck plant ( production moved to Mexico approx. 6 years ago ) and the second being one of our old car plant paint shops , they've been shut down for a number of years and it was just time to dismantle them.

The second issue that I get asked a lot is why is GM moving the Camaro ? I'm really not in a position to answer or comment on the rhyme or reason ! But I do fully understand this business and know that products reach their end build cycle , some are totally refreshed from the ground up as is the case of the 6thgen and some are totally shut down , I get this and accept how things are done.

We've had a great run with the 5thgen , and I for one am extremely proud and honored to have been a part of your build team , we know the end is coming and will continue to build your Camaros with pride and passion until the last one rolls off the line on November 20th .

All any of us want ( especially ) the younger workers who are just starting out is a replacement product for the Camaro , something that will add to our mix of vehicle's . Everyone knows we can build world class products and having an additional vehicle will at least form a foundation to proceed into 2020 and beyond .

Again I don't want to get into a Canada vs USA debate , we all want to work and raise our families regardless of where we live , GM has been in my family since 1918 & has provided for four generations of the Judge clan and all of us are proud of the products General Motors builds be they Canadian or American assembled .

My time is also coming to an end here at the plant & I hope future generations of workers will carry the torch for GM , and along with their fellow workers will continue to build the best quality vehicle's for our great customers the world over .

Thanks for allowing me to rant this Sunday morning & everyone have a wonderful week

Mike Judge
Super60

No rant!
Just the Sunday morning gospel from our "Pastor of the Camaro."

[oldfriend]

Originally Posted by GretchenGotGrowl

It is hard to tell from that "sentence," but I think you are asking why it matters where Louis Chevrolet was born. If that is your question, simply put it doesn't; at least not any more than where the 5th Gen Camaro was assembled. These workers did a fantastic job on the two I've owned, and I hope they can keep their jobs with GM.


Again, not sure what you are saying, but if he wants to hire them to assemble Teslas, that would be great. I think they would prefer to stay with GM, but a job is a job. On the otherhand, if he is planning to send them on a one-way trip to space I suspect he won't get many takers.

That's exactly my point , just because one was born somewhere else , but does he /she job ( well ) in the USA , more power to them
I just gave that one example
But if you take the time and look around into a lot off the biggest US companies , you will find that a great number off the influential people actually came from other parts of this planet
Just like the guys that funded Chevrolet a while back
If they are very good on what they do , bring them in !

[garfin]

Originally Posted by super60

The second issue that I get asked a lot is why is GM moving the Camaro ? I'm really not in a position to answer or comment on the rhyme or reason ! But I do fully understand this business and know that products reach their end build cycle , some are totally refreshed from the ground up as is the case of the 6thgen and some are totally shut down , I get this and accept how things are done.

Mike Judge
Super60

There are a number of reasons why GM is moving production of the Camaro, among which involves a bit of history of the Boisbriand plant in Ste. Therese Quebec, the (then) CAW and terms of the loans (CDN $10 million each) granted to GM by the Quebec and Canadian governments. It's an intriguing and complex story that offers a little bit of insight into some of the financial realities of the automotive business. Anyone interested in the story, a lot of which is fact and some of which can be termed "educated speculation" can read the excellent article written about this for Popular Hot Rodding Magazine in 2004 by Johnny Hunkins and Guy McCoy. IMHO, it's worth the read for any Camaro enthusiast who may not be familiar with some of the background behind why Oshawa ended up building the 5th Gen.
http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/...vrolet-camaro/

It's also interesting to read the article from today's perspective, considering the article was written only 2 years after the last 4th Gen rolled off the line in Ste. Therese.

Another factor in understanding why production of the 6th Gen is being moved to LGR is that LGR is the plant where GM is already building its rear-wheel-drive Alpha based cars (ATS, CTS). It only makes sense from an efficiency and economic standpoint that a 3rd Alpha-based car (Camaro) be built in the same factory.

I'm sure there are other reasons involved, but these are the factors that immediately comes to mind.

Best regards,

Elie

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by JLSuperfly

As long as they learn how to say "about" not "aboot".

Now now........y all . The redneck reference didnt start from the north and work south right?
.

[Jobrien]

Originally Posted by Dfault

Forgive me for not being specific enough. Welcome to the "United States."

If it puts United States citizens back to work, or at least the place of assembly back in the states, I don't care what's opens in another country. If it makes me an @$$hole, so be it!

[card33]

Originally Posted by Todd in Vancouver

So sorry for those who will be caught up in these lay offs. Please know how much we appreciate your work and craftsmanship in building these fine cars. I love my 5th Gen Camaro and the quality of this car is second to none. Hope something comes through soon for the line and you are all back doing what you do best, building kick ass cars.

G.M should build the new Chevelle there and use the platform that was used for our camaros I bet they could make it look awesome

[JCunningham]

Isnt there a beer factory being built? if there isnt there should be. I think it might be Labatts in Buffalo though.

[JCunningham]

Originally Posted by card33

G.M should build the new Chevelle there and use the platform that was used for our camaros I bet they could make it look awesome

the Chevelle had a full frame and has to keep that if you ask me but ya. i like this idea.
GM GIVE OSHAWA A NEW CAR AND KEEP ALL THESE EMPLOYES. THEY EARNED THEIR KEEP AND THEN SOME.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by SSMY1LE

Maybe they will move the plant to Texas so they can be built by Mexicans ??

That's about right.

[cornfield camaro]

Originally Posted by super60

Thanks for your kind words So just to confirm , the 5thgen will roll off the line for the final time on Friday November 20th . As of this date we do not have another product to replace the Camaro , so the flex line will lose one shift ( 1000 ) people . As has been stated there will be a canvass done to see who would like to retire , that will decide the final numbers on total layoffs.

I have the option to retire as I have 32 yrs service , but will wait to see what exactly is being offered before making a decision . Ideally because I've been involved with the 5thgen since before production and worked on VIN # 0001 , I'd like to see the very last Camaro off the line in November .

I don't want to get into a pissing match with some of my American friends here regarding where the Camaro should be built , but I do have to say I'm disappointed with some of the comments I've read here ! I've owned many American built cars and trucks over the years and have never complained about it being from the USA ,in fact I'm proud to own American assembled products because I know the men and women of General Motors always put their heart and soul into each vehicle . My wife's Malibu is American built , we never for a second , thought about not buying it because of its assembly location !

We are a global economy and the Oshawa plants have been building world class products for over 80 yrs , all of us here have given 100 % to each of the 5thgens going down the line and will continue to do so until the very last day .

I wish my brothers / sisters in Lansing all the best with the 6thgen and know full well they will carry the torch high and with pride .

As always I send best regards to all of you and your families from Canada and have a wonderful weekend.

Mike Judge
Super60

I'm from Iowa and have always considered Canadiens my buddies. I don't know what these other guys are thinking.