May 20, 2020
Scott Bell
GM Canada President and Managing Director
Re: Add N95 Masks to Oshawa Production
Dear Mr. Bell,
On April 24, the Canadian government announced a letter of intent to convert a portion of the GM Oshawa complex for the manufacture of much needed medical masks.
Green Jobs Oshawa welcomed this important step forward.
However, it soon became apparent that GM’s plans for Oshawa are far short of what is needed.
We are calling on you to vastly increase the amount of PPE production in Oshawa immediately, and in particular, to add significant capacity for the production of N95 masks.
Front line health care workers are becoming infected and dying because of the desperate shortage of N95 masks. Over 3,600 health care workers in Ontario have been infected – 16% of all cases in this province. At least 7 have died. The main cause of this horrible toll is that our medical institutions have restricted access to N95 masks, or encouraged front line workers to use lesser protection, primarily because the supply is so low. Other front line workers including in retail and transportation also are impacted by these shortages.
You are aware that there have been urgent and growing public demands for Canadian manufacturing of N95 masks and other necessary PPE, including from the unions of front line workers such as the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE, SEIU, Ontario Nurses Association, and the UFCW.
Canadian government data shows that over 104 million N95 masks have been ordered, but only 1.7 million N95 masks that meet Canadian standards have been delivered as of May 14. That means there is a shortage of over 100 million N95 masks.[1]
General Motors Canada has the ability to manufacture millions of N95 masks in Oshawa:
General Motors of Canada asked for, and received $11 billion of public money in 2009. Now, GM of Canada is in the position of being able to make a significant contribution to the public good in Ontario and Canada.
We urge you to commit to immediately expanding the Oshawa PPE manufacturing project, including adding N95 masks.
Rebecca Keetch, laid off GM worker
Tony Leah, GM retiree
for Green Jobs Oshawa:
cc:
Dave Paterson, Vice President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs
Jennifer Wright, Director, Communications
[1] https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/comm/mc-cd/provisions-supplies-eng.html#working
Scott Bell
GM Canada President and Managing Director
Re: Add N95 Masks to Oshawa Production
Dear Mr. Bell,
On April 24, the Canadian government announced a letter of intent to convert a portion of the GM Oshawa complex for the manufacture of much needed medical masks.
Green Jobs Oshawa welcomed this important step forward.
However, it soon became apparent that GM’s plans for Oshawa are far short of what is needed.
We are calling on you to vastly increase the amount of PPE production in Oshawa immediately, and in particular, to add significant capacity for the production of N95 masks.
Front line health care workers are becoming infected and dying because of the desperate shortage of N95 masks. Over 3,600 health care workers in Ontario have been infected – 16% of all cases in this province. At least 7 have died. The main cause of this horrible toll is that our medical institutions have restricted access to N95 masks, or encouraged front line workers to use lesser protection, primarily because the supply is so low. Other front line workers including in retail and transportation also are impacted by these shortages.
You are aware that there have been urgent and growing public demands for Canadian manufacturing of N95 masks and other necessary PPE, including from the unions of front line workers such as the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE, SEIU, Ontario Nurses Association, and the UFCW.
Canadian government data shows that over 104 million N95 masks have been ordered, but only 1.7 million N95 masks that meet Canadian standards have been delivered as of May 14. That means there is a shortage of over 100 million N95 masks.[1]
General Motors Canada has the ability to manufacture millions of N95 masks in Oshawa:
- GM is already manufacturing N95 masks in the Warren, Michigan plant, and Warren is the template that was used for setting up mask production in Oshawa.
- The GM Oshawa complex has 10 million square feet, most of which is not being utilized. The existing mask production project is reported to use only 30,000 square feet. There is ample room to expand production.
- GM Canada plans to employ 50 to 60 workers for mask production. When GM eliminated vehicle production in Oshawa in December of 2019, you eliminated the jobs of 5,000 highly skilled assembly and supplier workers. Thousands of those workers are available and would be eager to manufacture N95 masks and other urgently needed PPE for front line Canadian workers.
General Motors of Canada asked for, and received $11 billion of public money in 2009. Now, GM of Canada is in the position of being able to make a significant contribution to the public good in Ontario and Canada.
We urge you to commit to immediately expanding the Oshawa PPE manufacturing project, including adding N95 masks.
Rebecca Keetch, laid off GM worker
Tony Leah, GM retiree
for Green Jobs Oshawa:
cc:
Dave Paterson, Vice President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs
Jennifer Wright, Director, Communications
[1] https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/comm/mc-cd/provisions-supplies-eng.html#working
