Thursday, 21 July, 2016
For immediate release
TORONTO – Air Canada has committed to sending the heavy maintenance of its C-Series jets, which it will be purchasing from Bombardier, to Columbus, Georgia. Although the company won’t take delivery of the jets until 2019, it is announcing the work won’t be done in Canada.
“If engine heavy maintenance is being sent outside Canada, then what will be sent out next year? And the year after that? Will there be any Air Canada work left for Canadians when it comes to repair and overhaul?” asks Stan Pickthall, Canadian General Vice-President. “We need to plan and make sure the future of young Canadians, who will need well-paying jobs, is secure,” he said.
Although the work of repair and overhaul is 5 or 6 years down the road, the IAM is raising the red flag of what is happening to the highly-skilled work of Canadians in the MRO sector.
The IAM is the largest union in Canada’s Air Transport Sector and the largest union at Air Canada representing 8,000 workers.
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For further information:
Frank Saptel, Communications Representative
416.386.1789 X6325