Montréal, QC – Members of The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will take to the streets of Montréal at 11:30 am this morning to protest the lack of support for Canada’s aerospace industry by federal and provincial governments.
The focal point of the protest will be the Mexico Now aerospace symposium at the Marriot Hotel in Dorval, sponsored by the Mexican government. “This symposium is a clear example of what’s wrong in our industry today,” explained IAMAW District 11 Directing Business Representative Dave Chartrand. “While Mexico comes into our backyard to promote its own aerospace industry – inviting Canadian aerospace firms to move their facilities south of the border – our governments sit of their hands and do nothing.”
“It’s a question of survival for the aerospace industry in Quebec,” said Chartrand. “Bombardier already has facilities in Mexico and it doesn’t take much imagination to think that other Canadian firms won’t benefit from the tax incentives and cheap labour that Mexico offers.” More than 45,000 workers are employed in the aerospace industry in the Montréal area including 13,000 Machinists members at companies such as Bombardier, Rolls Royce and Messier Dowty.
“I have nothing against the Mexicans trying to promote their industry but not at our expense. We will demonstrate our competence, our expertise and our willingness to fight for our jobs and our industry,” declared Chartrand. “I have only one question for our governments, why aren’t they conducting trade symposiums like this in other countries to bring more aerospace companies to Quebec and Canada.”
The focal point of the protest will be the Mexico Now aerospace symposium at the Marriot Hotel in Dorval, sponsored by the Mexican government. “This symposium is a clear example of what’s wrong in our industry today,” explained IAMAW District 11 Directing Business Representative Dave Chartrand. “While Mexico comes into our backyard to promote its own aerospace industry – inviting Canadian aerospace firms to move their facilities south of the border – our governments sit of their hands and do nothing.”
“It’s a question of survival for the aerospace industry in Quebec,” said Chartrand. “Bombardier already has facilities in Mexico and it doesn’t take much imagination to think that other Canadian firms won’t benefit from the tax incentives and cheap labour that Mexico offers.” More than 45,000 workers are employed in the aerospace industry in the Montréal area including 13,000 Machinists members at companies such as Bombardier, Rolls Royce and Messier Dowty.
“I have nothing against the Mexicans trying to promote their industry but not at our expense. We will demonstrate our competence, our expertise and our willingness to fight for our jobs and our industry,” declared Chartrand. “I have only one question for our governments, why aren’t they conducting trade symposiums like this in other countries to bring more aerospace companies to Quebec and Canada.”
