Toronto, Ontario — The Ford Motor Company of Canada is ramping up production at its Windsor plant.
Last month, Ford said it would make 2-million face shields for frontline healthcare workers and first responders. On Thursday, it said it was increasing production to make 2.75-million face shields, calling 200 workers back to work at the plant.
“By repurposing our production facilities in Windsor to meet the urgent demand for face shields, we can help protect the lives of our heroic healthcare professionals and first responders as they continue to treat the most vulnerable among us.” said Dean Stoneley, president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company of Canada.
Ford of Canada has been working closely with the Ontario and federal governments to distribute face shields throughout the province, and across Canada. Shipments are scheduled to start this week.
This is not the first time that The Ford Motor Company of Canada has put the needs of Canadians above its own interests. By 1940–two years before the U.S. entered the Second World War, it had turned its operations to the production of Canadian Military Pattern trucks, which were used by all of the Commonwealth Nations.
“Ford of Canada has a long history of supporting Canada and its communities in times of need,” said Stoneley,
Following the advice of government and health officials, Unifor and Ford of Canada remain in continuous communication at the national and plant level to ensure all safety actions and precautions are taken to help keep workers and their families protected.
“I am incredibly grateful to our members at Ford in Windsor for doing a tremendous service for their community and their country during this national emergency,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
“I commend Ford for working with Unifor to ensure that strict health and safety protocols are in place that will ensure our members can manufacture badly needed medical supplies and return home safely to their homes and families.”
The Ford Motor Company of Canada is also collecting industrial equipment for donation. Recently, 2,900 pairs of Nitrile gloves were distributed to Brampton Civic Hospital by Ford of Canada’s Bramalea Parts Distribution Centre in Brampton, Ontario.
