WOODSTOCK, ONT. — The Canadian Press Published on Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2009 7:56AM EDT Last updated on Friday, May. 15, 2009 2:38PM EDT
A freeze on overtime has been lifted at the Toyota plant in Woodstock, Ont., thanks to improved sales of the RAV-4 sport utility vehicle.
In February, the auto maker cut overtime in addition to laying off temporary workers and freezing wages and some benefits.
But RAV-4 sales in Canada are up 24 per cent in the first three months of this year over the same period in 2008.
In the United States, RAV-4 sales are down eight per cent so far this year, but that's an improvement over the 23 per cent plunge recorded for the same period last year compared to 2007.
Toyota has sold more than 35,000 vehicles in Canada so far this year and has sold about 360,000 in the U.S.
In order to meet growing demand, says company official Pat Clement, nine-hour shifts will return to the plant starting in May.
Join the Discussion: