Firestone announces Woodstock plant closure: 170 people to lose their jobs
October 4, 2017
October 4, 2017 – At a meeting held early Wednesday morning, Firestone Textiles announced to employees at the Woodstock plant that the employer intends to shut down the facility.
A partial closure will take place by the end of 2017, and the plant will close completely by the end of 2018.
The closure will result in job loss for approximately 170 people of which 135 are Unionized workers belonging to the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 175.
“The workers in that plant are hard-working and have done everything asked of them by this employer over the years,” said UFCW Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty. “Many of the Union members there have been in those jobs for decades. This closure is a devastating let down, not just for the 170 workers, but for their families and the Woodstock community.”
The Union will meet with the employer in the coming days to discuss the closure and its impact on the workers. Under the terms of the workers’ collective agreement, the affected employees will receive enhanced severance.
“We will work with the employer to attempt to mitigate the effects of this decision on the workers,” said President Haggerty. “This is another example of a multi-national corporation making decisions based purely on profit and it highlights the need to be proactive in our trade agreements such as NAFTA, to ensure that Canada’s focus is on maintaining good Canadian jobs.”
Members should direct any questions and concerns to their Union Representative.
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Media, for more information please contact:
Tim Deelstra
Engagement & Media Relations
226-750-4366
media@ufcw175.com