Before long, the Lear Canada auto parts plant in Kitchener will be no more.
While an exact timetable for shutting down the plant isn’t yet known, officials with the union representing its workers say the decision has been made to close the facility.
“It’s hard to give a definitive answer. It could potentially trickle itself for a period of time,” Unifor Local 1524 president Brian Little told CTV News.
Last month, Little said that Lear Corporation intended to move its production operations from the corner of Homer Watson Boulevard and Manitou Drive to a facility in Mexico.
It is not clear if that is the ultimate destination of the work currently being done in Kitchener, which involves making metal parts used in seats for Chrysler vehicles.
“Our employer is saying that there is no new work to put inside of our facility,” Little said.
According to the union, the current collective agreement between Lear and Unifor expires next January – and the company wouldn’t agree to any new programs past that.
Some workers will be given severance packages, while others are expected to retire.
At its peak, the Lear plant employed nearly 1,000 people.
Lear did not return a request for comment before this article was published.
Unifor also represents some employees of CTV Kitchener.
