Todd Forbes, a resident of Oshawa, is facing an uncertain future as General Motors (GM) plans to cut the midnight shift at its Oshawa plant on Jan. 30. Forbes, who has lived in the area his whole life and has been employed at TFT Global Inc. supplying auto parts to the GM plant, is concerned about finding new employment in the city of Oshawa with its 9% unemployment rate.
Forbes, 48, is considering relocating to Nova Scotia with his wife and dog, Gizmo, in search of better job prospects. Despite his diverse work experience, including manufacturing, maintenance, waste management, retail, and sales, Forbes believes he may have better luck finding a job in the Maritimes.
The impending shift layoff at GM’s Oshawa Assembly will affect around 2,000 workers, including Forbes, who are part of the 3,000 GM employees and 2,000 supply-chain workers at the plant. The layoffs coincide with a rise in the national unemployment rate, with Ontario experiencing a significant decline in job numbers.
While there have been delays in the shift cut, thousands of well-paying jobs remain at risk. The uncertainty has led some workers to sell their homes and vehicles in preparation for the layoffs. Despite the challenges, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter remains optimistic about the city’s future in the auto industry, exploring opportunities for technological advancements and attracting new companies to the area.
As the city grapples with the impact of the GM layoffs and the broader economic landscape, efforts are being made to diversify industries and support transitioning workers. However, some workers, like Forbes, are hesitant about retraining due to time constraints. Forbes, who values his close-knit community and family connections in Oshawa, is faced with the difficult decision of potentially relocating to pursue employment opportunities elsewhere.
