Windsor's Mayor is intervening on behalf of 300 workers at Syncreon about to lose their jobs.
Drew Dilkens is asking the federal government to allow them to collect their full employment insurance entitlements. He said the workers are not eligible for expanded benefits "due to circumstances outside of their control."
In his letter to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Dilkens wrote, "Almost 300 families in my community will face an economic precipice -- and simply cannot wait for the prospect of a potential EV battery plant job two or three years from today."
This week, I sent a letter to @CQualtro regarding employees who will be laid off at Syncreon. These workers will not be eligible for expanded benefits due to circumstances outside of their control. I’m calling on the Feds to ensure that these workers receive equitable treatment. pic.twitter.com/Ry3EyJcs1c
— Drew Dilkens (@drewdilkens) September 4, 2022
In July, the union representing workers at Syncreon announced Stellantis was moving work done by the Windsor company to the Windsor Assembly Plant. Unifor Local 195 President Emile Nabbout said Syncreon had performed the work for 20 years, and employees were "devastated" by the news.
The work will be insourced to the Windsor Assembly Plant by the end of October, allowing Stellantis to call back its employees on layoff.
He calls on the federal government to reduce the waiting period before employment insurance kicks in, adjusting the maximum benefit claim duration to align with when the layoffs take effect and waiving the penalty for collecting their severance packages.
Dilkens plans to introduce a motion calling for City Council's support.
"I appreciate that our national and international macroeconomic financial picture has evolved significantly since the depth of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Inflationary pressures and tightening monetary policy are driving fiscal decisions to constrain government spending," wrote Dilkens. "At a high level, I am in agreement with these principles. However, we must recognize that our national economic health is only as strong as the working families which underpin it."
All three of the region's Members of Parliament signed the letter.