FCA prepares to cut third shift at Windsor Assembly, end production of Dodge Grand Caravan

Windsor Assembly Plant is scheduled to lose one of its three shifts beginning next month, a move that will affect about 1,500 people, as the plant adjusts its production, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles prepares to stop making the Dodge Grand Caravan at the end of August.

In a departure from most recent automotive news, the impact of COVID-19 is not a factor, other than delaying the end of Grand Caravan production and when the third shift is eliminated, both of of which were announced earlier. The timing is interesting, however, in that the facility, just this week, welcomed back the last of its three shifts after the lengthy coronavirus shutdown that affected plants across North America.

While the changes to production and the elimination of the shift are not unexpected, they will play into this year’s contract talks in Canada. Unifor, the union representing Canadian autoworkers has said talks will begin in mid-August.

Local 444 President Dave Cassidy said in a Facebook video on Thursday that securing another vehicle at Windsor Assembly through contract talks will be a key focus for him. He has been particularly critical of the company’s decision to eliminate the third shift.

“We’ve had three shifts here since 1993. I’m a product of that third shift, and they owe us a product,” Cassidy said, noting that Windsor Assembly workers are second to none. “That will be our main topic in bargaining … new product for Windsor Assembly Plant. We are owed it. FCA owes us that. We have done our part. Now it’s time for them to pay up on that.”

Windsor Assembly, which dates to 1928, has been building minivans since 1983, according to FCA, and currently produces the Chrysler Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, Chrysler Voyager and Dodge Grand Caravan. As of January, the plant had 5,844 workers, more than 5,600 of them hourly, working on its three shifts.

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The company is offering buyouts — the Windsor Star said about 1,300 would be handed out — and said it will work to find places for workers who are laid off.

“As previously announced in March 2019, FCA intends to return the Windsor Assembly Plant to a traditional two-shift operation, now scheduled to begin on July 13, 2020, in order to better align production with global demand. This action will affect approximately 1,500 people. Retirement packages are being offered to eligible employees. The company will make every effort to place indefinitely laid off hourly employees in open full-time positions as they become available based on seniority,” according to a statement from FCA spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.