GM laying off hundreds of CAMI employees

(Contributed Photo).

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

General Motors (GM) is temporarily halting and then reducing production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van at Ingersoll’s CAMI Assembly Plant. The union representing the workers said it is devastating for Unifor members, their families, and the entire Ingersoll community.

Employees were told of their fate today and sent home.

“This is a crushing blow to hundreds of working families in Ingersoll and the surrounding region who depend on this plant,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “General Motors must do everything in its power to mitigate job loss during this downturn, and all levels of government must step up to support Canadian auto workers and Canadian-made products.”

GM has indicated it remains committed to the CAMI facility, with upgrades for the 2026 model year, but Unifor feels the immediate future remains uncertain without stronger domestic support and fair market access.

“Our members have endured so much — from retooling disruptions to months of rotating layoffs — and now they’re facing a major production slowdown and job loss,” said Unifor Local 88 CAMI Plant Chairperson Mike Van Boekel. “Global demand for last-mile delivery vehicles is only growing. Our members have the skill, the experience, and the pride to build world-class electric vehicles right here in Canada. All we need is the opportunity to keep doing it.”

Unifor is calling on all levels of government to back Canadian workers, strengthen Canada’s industrial strategy, and support Canadian-made products with procurement dollars.

“The BrightDrop electric delivery van is built in Canada by Canadian workers — it’s the smart choice for Canadian business, government agencies and for our economy,” added Payne. “Procurement and industrial policy go hand in hand. Now is the time for Canada to show leadership by investing in Canadian manufacturing.” 

Unifor said actions by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles and auto parts have sent shockwaves through the industry, creating uncertainty across the North American auto sector. 

“The reality is the U.S. is creating industry turmoil. Trump’s short-sighted tariffs and rejection of EV technology are disrupting investment and freezing future order projections,” said Payne. “This is creating an opening for China and other foreign automakers to dominate the global EV market while the North American industry risks falling behind.”

She added the world is moving rapidly towards electrification, and if Canada and the U.S. hit pause, the ability to catch up could be lost.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in major economic sectors.

This is a developing story.