For Immediate Release
Lachine, QC – The 450 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1660 employed at GE Hydro can face this summer with renewed optimism.
The members were faced with losing their jobs because GE Hydro was to close the 89-year old facility at the end of June 2008. However the doors will remain open following the purchase of the facility by Andritz Va Tech Hydro of Austria and Metso Incorporated of Finland.
“This is great news”, said a smiling Denis Longtin, IAMAW District 11 Business Representative. “Things didn’t look good when GE Hydro announced last September that it would close this place. We never gave up hope and now these good-paying jobs have been saved.” We expect the new owners will give new energy to an old building,” added Longtin. “The new employers have told us that Metso will take care of the factory while Andritz will concentrate on research and development in the laboratory.”
The facility had produced hydro electric turbines for Hydro-Québec, China and California but GE felt it was no longer viable when Hydro-Québec decided to purchase its turbines in Brazil and Mexico. The facility located in suburban Montréal will now specialize in the manufacturing of crushers and crushing cylinders for the mining industry.
IAMAW, among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, represents more than 700,000 active and retired members, and administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking, aerospace, manufacturing and defense related industries.
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For further information:
Denis Longtin – IAMAW District 11 Business Representative
514-956-1578/514-914-0315
Bill Trbovich – IAMAW Director of Communications
416-386-1789 ext 6331/416-735-9765