Monday September 11, 2017
For Immediate Release
Montréal, QC – Machinist members will be out in full force Wednesday in the streets of Montréal for a rally and march to the US Consulate to protest trade complaints and court action by Boeing Corporation against Bombardier.
“The International Association of Machinists (IAM) helped build the infrastructure of the Quebec Aerospace industry, we built it and we will protect it,” explained IAM Quebec Coordinator Dave Chartrand.
Boeing filed trade complaints and took court action against Bombardier for its sale of 75 C-Series 100 narrow-body passenger aircraft to Delta Airlines. Boeing claims the Canadian aircraft manufacturer poured the C Series into the American market at unfair low prices. Boeing claims Bombardier is able to do this because of subsidies from the federal and Quebec governments. “Boeing’s arguments are hollow” said Chartrand. “Boeing did not even bid on the Delta contract and the C-Series poses no threat to Boeing’s 737 because it’s not in the same size class.”
The IAM is the largest union in Canadian aerospace with more than 6,000 members employed by Bombardier at plants in Montreal and surrounding area. The IAM is also the largest union at Boeing. “Let’s make this very clear, this is a court battle between two corporations,” explained IAM Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall. “Our members will be out there to protect to protect their jobs and defend the aerospace industry in Canada. In the context of the NAFTA talks underway, we must protect this industry and the livelihood of our members in Montréal and across the country.”
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For further information:
Stan Pickthall – IAM Canadian General Vice President
416-386-1789
David Chartrand – IAM Québec Coordinator
514-956-1578/514-231-9100
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext #6331/416-735-9765
