Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation sent this joint letter to the leadership of UNIFOR, expressing support for workers at GM Oshawa, which will be impacted by the recent closure announcement.
Nov. 28, 2018
Mr. Travis Hester and Mr. Jerry Dias
President and Managing Director President, UNIFOR
GM, Canada 205 Placer Place
1908 Colonel Sam Drive Toronto, ON
Oshawa,ON M2H3H9
L1H 8P7
Dear Mr. Hester and Mr. Dias:
We would like to express our disappointment with the announcement of the closure of the Oshawa
General Motors Assembly Plant and extend our support to the skilled workforce and UNIFOR members who may be affected.
Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation recognize the role the auto industry and the Oshawa GM plant have played in Ontario’s economy for decades and we believe that we can play a part in keeping these highly skilled people in high-paying jobs in the nuclear industry.
Skilled tradespeople and skilled workers are one of our province’s biggest assets and there is a deficit being predicted in the Ontario labour market. Bruce Power, OPG and the Ontario nuclear fleet support employment and training opportunities for skilled workers.
Premier Ford announced that Employment Ontario will deploy its Rapid Re-Employment and Training
Services program for impacted workers. OPG, Bruce Power and the many contractors in Ontario’s nuclear industry are committed to working with stakeholders in an attempt to provide opportunities for skilled workers who may be impacted by the closure.
OPG’s Darlington Refurbishment Project and Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement (MCR) Program are the two largest infrastructure projects in Ontario. We understand the value of a trained, skilled workforce for Ontario and we look forward to playing a part in keeping Ontario’s workforce employed.
Sincerely,
Cathy Sprague
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Bruce Power
Carla Carmichael
Vice President, Commercial Management & Project Assurance
Ontario Power Generation
CC: Hon. Doug Ford, Premier, Province of Ontario
Hon. Laurie Scott, Minister of Labour
Hon. Merilee Fullierton, Minister Training, Colleges and Universities
Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs