Ford Motor will slash about 450 jobs at its Oakville assembly plant in Ontario, as the automaker discontinues production of the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT, Canada’s largest private-sector union Unifor stated on Monday.
Ford’s move to halt production of the crossovers comes as the company is increasing its truck and utility lineup and shedding passenger cars, apart from its iconic Mustang sports car.
“We will stop building the Ford Flex at the end of November. Lincoln MKT production ended previously this month,” stated Kelli Felker, manufacturing & labor communications manager at Ford.
The company has hired about 4,100 hourly workers at the Oakville plant.
Negotiations between Unifor and Ford for a new collective agreement are going to take place in 2020, the union stated.
“Hopefully we get some kind of announcement that Ford is going to invest some new money into Oakville and at least there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” stated Dave Thomas, president of Unifor Local 707 in Oakville.
