Windsor's Mayor vows he'll ramp up his efforts to lobby senior governments for supports for the auto industry following Stellantis's announcement it will cut another shift at the Windsor Assembly Plant.
Drew Dilkens reacted to the news over the weekend, calling it a reminder "economic recovery from this global pandemic remains a work in progress."
Stellantis announced on Friday it was moving to one shift at the local assembly plant in the spring of 2022.
It blamed the ongoing global shortage of semiconductors and the pandemic.
"In response to these factors, Stellantis will adjust production operations at its Windsor Assembly Plant in Canada," wrote spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin in an email to WindsorNewsToday.ca. "Beginning in the spring of 2022, WAP will transition to a one-shift operation."
Dilkens just met with federal and provincial officials last week, and those discussions, in part, were about continued investment in the automotive industry.
"I was pleased with the level of engagement and involvement from federal officials in Ottawa and their understanding of the importance of our Windsor Works economic diversification strategy," he said. "In the weeks ahead, I will be ramping up my fight for the automotive sector in our region to ensure that when business attraction decisions are being made, senior leaders in Ottawa and Queen's Park recognize the vital importance of the automotive sector to the economic health of Windsor-Essex and all of Southwestern Ontario."
Stellantis did not say if the decision to move to one shift as of April 17, 2022 was permanent.
The plant currently operates with two shifts. The decision will impact about 1,800 jobs.
The plant has halted production on and off all year because of the shortage of semiconductors.