A Port Hope man said the fight has just begun for thousands of people who are subcontracted by General Motors who will be out of work.
GM announced the Flex plant will close in Oshawa by October 31 and the truck plant will close on November 29.
Roy Eagen is a forklift operator who works at Ceva Logistics which is a parts supplier for General Motors in Oshawa.
Eagen is also the Ceva Logistics complex Unifor representative and said the fight has just begun to get a fair settlement for thousands of workers subcontracted by General Motors.
For 2,600 General Motors employees that are affected, Eagen said they have negotiated settlements of early retirement for 900 employees, while the others have had second career training among other items.
But for thousands of workers who supply GM, Eagen said the fight has just begun.
“It seems like we’ve been forgotten. Nobody is doing anything.”
“We’re still negotiating for just trying to be treated fair, and we’re a long way from being treated fair.”
New employees started at Ceva Logistics at 1/3 of the wages of a GM employee and end up maxed out at $20 an hour.
They have no pension and no severance except for the Federal regulation that pays two days for every year of service.
For Eagen that works out to approximately two weeks pay, or $1,200 for his nearly 10 years of service.
Eagen says in the media all people hear about are GM employees, but he estimates there are 12 supply companies that will be affected and 10 of them will be fully closed when all is said and done.
“Between us, there are more supplier people that are not being talked about at all.”
For every one GM employee there are eight supplier people who will ultimately lose their jobs.
Everyone knows what is going to happen, but all the employees are asking for is fair compensation for what will happen in a few months.
“The membership feels that they’re dragging it along long enough that it will come to, “we don’t have to talk about it now because the plant is already closed.”
The stress of what will happen is already taking its toll on employees and their families.
“I’ve gone to three celebrations of life since I’ve been elected in the last three weeks for people committing suicide.”
“No mortgages – they’ve lost their homes. You go to the bank for loans or mortgages, they don’t give to auto workers as we are high risk.”
The parts supplier companies for GM have 200-400 employees at each of their plants said Eagen.
“None of us created this. We’ve been loyal employees for all these years building the best products and we’re basically getting kicked in the teeth.”
Recently a worker came to him stating he was going through medical treatment and doesn’t know what is going to happen in the Fall.
Another stated he has a five-year-old who is on medical treatments each month which requires medication for life. Shortly he will be out of work with no benefits.
“The lower end of Oshawa will be affected so bad it will look like Detroit did years ago when all the auto plants were closed.”
Even in Northumberland County and in Port Hope where Eagen lives will see a change when thousands of workers are without jobs.
“A lot of people are watching their money now because there isn’t going to be any in the Fall. It will ripple effect all of our communities.”
Eagen said a lot of union workers aren’t entirely satisfied with their union’s handing of the situation.
“They didn’t jump on ship until about the beginning of June until we started the “Suppliers Lives Matter” campaign.”
“It’s very stressful going in. You still have loyal employees going in that build between 400-450 trucks a day, just in my plant. I know the quality is still there.”
Shortly the workers will be going back after their two-week annual shutdown, but he expects the mood will be a lot worse.
“I know it’s going to get a lot worse when we go back because people will know there are no more holidays left.”
“We’re just gradually getting day to day, closer and closer to losing our jobs.”
“We need support from our communities, the local people to call your local council, MPP and MP.”
Eagen said the fight will continue for proper compensation for the workers, but has no doubt it will be the end of his job and thousands of others who supply General Motors.
“All the suppliers have been loyal employees all these years. But all we’re asking is to just sit at the table and be fair.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
