The president of Unifor Local 444 says he's working with Fiat-Chrysler and Oakley Sub Assembly to save 47 jobs at the auto parts supplier.
Oakley makes wheel assemblies for the minivan built at the Windsor Assembly Plant, but Dino Chiodo says it doesn't have a quote to supply parts for new product at the plant. "That has to mean somebody else is bidding on the work, or somebody else has been awarded the work," says Chiodo saying the last agreement was signed with Integram last October.
He says there were complications with Oakley's quote. "We don't know why," he says. "It's just going to be a matter of time until we find out who that supplier is going to be and how our workers are going to be affected."
Chiodo says there are a lot of unknowns, and it's too early to speculate what will happen when the current agreement runs out next February.
He says the union plans to meet with Fiat Chrysler, Oakley and the new supplier so they can figure out a smooth transition for members that saves jobs.
