Ford Motor Company is eliminating a shift at the Essex Engine Plant.
Employees found out about the decision to eliminate the midnight shift on Wednesday, according to Unifor Local 200 president John D’Agnolo.
There are about 120 people who work on that shift, but D’Agnolo tells CTV News he doesn’t expect layoffs because of the new 7-litre program at the Annex building in Windsor.
A Ford spokesperson confirmed to CTV Windsor, there will be no layoffs and the 120 people on the line will have the option to work at the Annex.
“To better align with consumer demand, Essex Engine Plant will move to two 5.0-litre engine assembly shifts starting in October 2019,” says Matt Drennan-Scace, the manager of communications for Ford of Canada. “All employees affected by the shift reduction will have the opportunity to move to WEP-Annex to support 7.3-litre engine production.”
D’Agnolo says the decision was made because of softening demand for the 5-litre engine for the F-150 truck.
He admits the decision is disappointing because it’s less likely new workers will be hired for the new production.
Unifor local 200 vice president Tim Little adds the goal is to keep the current employees on the job.
“We believe that we can keep everybody employed and if it gets down to it where we do lose some, we'll work through retirements but the numbers will be small,” says Little.
The changes are expected to take place in October.
This news comes after Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced in March the layoff of 1,500 workers when the third shift is cancelled at Windsor Assembly.
