Auto assembly plant cuts leave workers worried

Tens of thousands of anxious workers in Ontario's auto industry will be off the job during the next few months as the once-mighty auto-giant General Motors┬átoday announced plans to shut down virtually all of its North American plants for January. ┬á Company and union officials confirmed yesterday additional production cuts for December and the first few months of next year that will hit every assembly plant in Ontario.┬á Plunging sales in the US continue to hammer production in Canada. "All of our (auto) workplaces in Canada are experiencing reductions and temporary layoffs," said Ken Lewenza, national president of the Canadian Auto Workers. "Every company is being very stringent on overbuilding now."┬á General Motors of Canada, whose U.S. sales have fallen more than 40 per cent in recent months, has already scheduled four weeks of downtime at its adjacent Oshawa truck plant in the first few months of next year.┬á The company said it will idle its Oshawa car plant for three more weeks in January and February, in addition to the two weeks announced earlier. The plant, which primarily builds Chevrolet Impalas, is also reducing output from three to two shifts.┬á The extensive downtime at some assembly plants in Oshawa, Oakville and Windsor will also cause layoffs at many parts makers who supply them, causing more anxiety to the auto industryÔÇÖs workers. ┬á "I mean, it's only people's lives that they're playing with, but who cares about that?" said Gregg Barton, an employee of General Motors who is eligible for retirement next year. Barton fears that the company may declare bankruptcy, jeopardizing his pension. "The company is not telling us anything. A lot of people don't realize just how serious this is.ÔÇØ ┬á"This is going to impact everyone," added fellow worker Mike Moher. "The whole economy is going to be hurt."