5 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,O ctober 31,2019 insidehalton.com At Village Orthodontics in Oakville, we specialize in beautiful smiles using clear aligners and traditional braces. New Patients Welcome Schedule your complimentary consultation today! Get your smile ready for picture day with Village Orthodontics 647-496-1424 2-2983 Westoak Trails Blvd. Oakville villageortho.ca FACTORY SHOE OUTLET BURLINGTON Ford of Canada has an- nounced they will lay off 450 workers at the Oakville Assembly Plant. Unifor Local 707 - the union which represents the Ford plant workers - confirmed the layoffs on Monday, Oct. 28. On the union's website Local president Dave Thomas said the company has notified them that due to cost expenses, slowing sales, and the discontinuation of the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT models, 450 of the plant's lowest seniority members would be laid off indefinitely effective Monday, Feb. 3. Thomas also said the Oakville Assembly Complex would cease assembly operations from Friday, Dec. 20 and resume Monday, Jan. 13. He said the complex's body shop would eliminate its mid- night shift and assembly line speeds would be reduced to 52 jobs per hour. "Our local In-plant committee is extremely frustrated and disap- pointed, as we were having ongo- ing discussions with the company for the past several months tryingff to persuade them to consider al- ternatives to this decision," said Thomas. "However, today, the company has once again indicated that this is a business decision and they will be moving forward." Thomas said he realizes this announcement will cause great concern for the entire Local 707 membership and their families. "It will have a serious impact on us all in the coming months. It's never a good time for layoff no- tifications but when it happens around the holiday season it makes it that much more trou- bling," he said. "The Local leadership will continue to make every effort to lessen the impact of this deci- sion." These 450 layoffs are in addi- tion to the 200 layoffs Ford an- nounced at the Oakville Assem- bly Plant on July 17, 2019. When reached for comment Lauren More, vice-president of communications for Ford Motor Company of Canada confirmed the 450 layoffs and that they would be taking place in early 2020. "Ford is ending production of Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT as it strengthens its focus on products in the heart of the fastest growing segments to meet shifting con- sumer demands," said More. "Oakville Assembly will ad- just production levels, resulting in approximately 450 layoffs in early 2020." She said globally, Ford is re- placing 75 per cent of its vehicle lineup and will have the freshest lineup by the end of 2020, expand- ing its truck and utility lineup with new models, including Es- cape, Explorer and the new Super Duty pickup truck. "Ford's new lineup will include more hybrid models and more electric vehicle choices, includ- ing the launch of an all-new Mus- tang-inspired electric perfor- mance utility in 2020," said More. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton called the announcement disap- pointing news that would impact Oakville families and the commu- nity. "Oakville Assembly employs more than 4,600 people here in Oakville and I'm hopeful that Ford and Unifor's positive leader- ship and good relationship, as well as their well-established pro- cedures will assist in transition- ing workers as the plant contin- ues to produce the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus," he said. "I will be raising today's an- nouncement at the upcoming Au- to Mayors caucus meeting in No- vember." NEWS FORD ANNOUNCES 450 LAYOFFS AT OAKVILLE PLANT DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com A row of new Ford vehicles sit on a dealership lot. Graham Paine/Torstar