Engine plant closing Dec.1

Job losses almost offset by retirements, union leader says

Dave Hall, Windsor Star

Ford Motor Company's Essex Engine Plant is scheduled for closure Dec. 1 throwing 500 employees out of work and reducing the once-mighty automakers' local workforce to less than 2,000, according to the president of CAW Local 200.

Mike Vince said "that date is pretty much etched in stone right now according to the company.

"We just found out in the past week and while it could change, it doesn't seem likely at this point," said Vince. "Our members have to retire on the first of the month so that means Sept. 1, Oct. 1, Nov. 1 or Dec. 1."

But Ford spokeswoman Lauren More said Tuesday that "it's too early to say with any certainty when the closure will occur because we are always trying to align production with demand but it's safe to say the closure will come in the latter stages of the fourth quarter."

The closure, which the company said last year would come in the final quarter of this year, is part of a massive Ford restructuring effort which will see it reduce its workforce by between 25,000 and 30,000 employees through plant closures and layoffs. The plant was opened more than 25 years ago.

As part of that plan, the Windsor Casting Plant produced its final casting in late May, eliminating 450 jobs. Its final day of paid operation was July 1.

Once these latest job losses finally take effect more than half of Ford's 4,100 local employees will be on layoff or permanently displaced.

Vince said when the closure was first announced, the company wasn't fully aware of the demand for the plant's products but "as time goes on, it gets a little easier to assess the demand and settle on a final date."

Opened in 1981, the engine plant had more than 1,000 employees as recently as two years ago but is now down to about 550, including 500 members of CAW Local 200.

Vince said that 420 local Ford workers have filed their retirement papers so far which almost offsets the amount of job losses caused by the closure "except that we also have 549 others on layoff right now."

Vince also said there's been no word on a new product "but if I had a buck for every rumour, I'd be doing OK. Back in June we did what we thought was necessary to entice new investment and I guess I can say we remain hopeful."

In June, production and skilled trades workers unanimously endorsed a new cost-saving agreement which reduces the number of job classifications but it only takes effect if Ford makes new investments here. Over its numerous production cycles, the plant has produced V6 and V8 engines, cylinder heads, crankshafts and cylinder blocks for a variety of Ford vehicles.