FCA to end third shift at Windsor Assembly Plant

By Julianna Bonnett

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Canada (FCA) is planning to end the third shift at the Windsor Assembly plant come September, affecting more than 1,500 workers – not including those companies that supply Chrysler directly.

The Chrysler Assembly Plant started producing the minivan line in 1983 which led to them adding a third shift in 1993, according to a statement made by Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy on Thursday night.

The demand for minivans has always been high in the United States, which is the plant’s biggest market. Last year, sales of minivans dropped 0.3 per cent to just under 500,000 units and demand is already 23 per cent down over the first two months of 2019.

The plant that employs about 6,000 workers builds the Chrysler Pacifica, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and the Dodge Grand Caravan. When running at normal speed, the Windsor Assembly Plant produces close to 1500 minivans a day.