General Motors (GM) is eliminating the third shift at their Oshawa assembly plant. The decision will result in more than 700 directly lost jobs and hundreds more to be affected throughout the supply chain.
Workers are scheduled to complete their final midnight shift tonight, making it one of the most significant job cuts in recent years at the facility which produces light- and heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado pick up trucks.
Unifor, the union representing workers at this assembly plant, argues that this decision is coming despite GM’s strong financial performance and follows an increase in production in the United States after tariffs were imposed on Canadian-built vehicles.
GM reported more than $12 billion in pre-tax earnings in 2025 and they have plans to conduct a $6 billion share buyback, according to Unifor.
“General Motors has made a clear decision to cave to Donald Trump rather than stand up for its loyal Canadian workforce,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne in a statement.
The union says the decision followed an increased in Silverado production at GM’s Fort Wayne, Ind., plant after the United States set 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian built vehicles. Unifor says they presented GM with a proposal to maintain the third shift but the company rejected the plan.
“Even in a brutal trade war auto companies can make different decisions,” said Payne. “Decisions that respect the contributions and skilled work of Canadian autoworkers. Decisions that show Canadian consumers that these automakers actually care about the market they sell into, by stepping up to protect Canadian jobs and building here.”
GM says the shift is a part of broader production adjustments and that they remain committed to manufacturing in Canada. They are investing $280 million to reinforce the Oshawa plant’s future in GM’s key full-size truck program.
GM says that approximately 500 employees will be laid off and affected workers will receive income support and benefits under the GM-Unifor collective agreement, including unemployment and access to health care coverage.
GM also says that they have invested $2.6 billion in Canadian manufacturing over the past five years and continue to operate major facilities in Ontario such as their St. Catherine’s propulsion plant.
Unifor argues GM’s characterization of its commitment to Canada, arguing that the Oshawa layoffs indicate a broader issue.
“It is misguided for General Motors to think it can get away with consistently diminishing their production footprint in Canada and still be the number one seller of vehicles in the Canadian marketplace,” Payne said.
The Oshawa job losses come as many other major auto production facilities in Ontario remain halted without confirmed future product allocation, like GM’s CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ont., and Stellantis’ Brampton Assembly Plant.
Unifor continues to call on government to create a policy focused on domestic auto production.
“GM’s decision is not only short sighted but fails to recognize the mood of Canadians and Canadian workers,” said Payne.
