Community Update – Eyes on the Horizon
2016-09-25
Back
Print
|
|
Word
|
Add This|
Today’s ratification of a new four-year contract between GM Canada and Unifor is tremendous news for our employees, our communities and for Canada’s auto sector. We have reached a mutually beneficial Agreement that will enable new product, technology and process investments, preserve jobs and help to place GM’s Canadian operations at the forefront of advanced manufacturing flexibility, innovation and environmental sustainability.
With today’s vote of approval, some may be inclined to ask, “Who won?” But I think Unifor President Jerry Dias would be the first to agree with me, that is not the right question. The reality is that everyone won and by working together we have secured a victory for Canada. I want to compliment the professionalism of the local and national Unifor teams, not just over the past few weeks of bargaining, but over several years of straight talk, creative problem solving and commitment to both their members and the future of our industry in Canada.
“Working together we have secured
a victory for Canada.”
– Steve Carlisle
I think the real question today is, “what must we now do to build a strong and vibrant Canadian auto industry for the future?”
This Agreement has given us an opportunity to position our GM Canada manufacturing operations at the forefront of an industry that is experiencing dramatic transformation and change. The headwinds that have created challenges for manufacturing in Canada have certainly not disappeared over these past few weeks of bargaining. By continuing to work as partners, we can and will take them on. And we have already started to do just that.
Success always starts by focusing on your customers. Over the past year, our sales have grown and GM Canada brands have started to expand our market share in Canada. It has been especially encouraging to hear our employees, retirees and community members talking with GM dealers about a new vehicle purchase as a way to celebrate the optimism of our new Agreement. To celebrate, we’re driving our future together by adding a short-term bonus to our existing employee purchase program.
The new Agreement will enable us to bring new investment to Oshawa, St. Catharines and Woodstock. And this comes on top of the newly revealed Chevrolet Equinox which will begin production next year in Ingersoll. While some of the details of the new Agreement have already been shared, GM Canada is also in discussions with our provincial and federal government partners on possible support agreements that can help to optimize our competitiveness for the future. We are exploring how to build an advanced manufacturing footprint that sets new standards for innovation, quality, flexibility, productivity and environmental sustainability. Our governments understand the importance of this opportunity and we hope to be able to share more information on those discussions soon.
Driving the future requires Canada to increase its focus on automotive RD and innovation urgently and decisively. Canada has a great opportunity to be part of the invention of new technology for an industry that will be increasingly electric, connected, autonomous and part of the sharing economy. We are taking the lead in Canada and making excellent progress on the plans we announced with our Premier and Prime Minister to increase GM Canada’s engineering base to 1,000 positions.
Our hiring of new software engineers is ahead of schedule and we are making solid progress on the expansion of our innovation ecosystem in Oshawa, Markham, Waterloo, Toronto and Kapuskasing. More news on that to come as well.
So congratulations to all of the teams involved in reaching such a great result this week. As any good driver knows, when you are going fast, it’s very important to keep your eyes on the horizon.
And that’s what we are going to do. Working Together.
Steve
Steve Carlisle
President and Managing Director
General Motors of Canada