Aveos Closure Triggers 2,600 Layoffs in Canada
March 20, 2012
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IAM leaders in Canada are responding angrily to the closure of Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. in Toronto, ON, calling the move a violation of the Air Canada Public Participation Act.
“The act stipulates that Air Canada must maintain aircraft heavy maintenance facilities or have such work performed at facilities in Winnipeg, Mississauga and Montreal,” said IAM Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie. “Since Air Canada is pulling this work from these facilities and seeking alternative suppliers, Aveos has subsequently ceased operations affecting 1,785 highly-skilled workers in Montreal, 412 in Winnipeg and 356 in Vancouver. This is exactly why we took Air Canada to court when it sold its maintenance unit to Aveos. We knew this could happen and now it has. Air Canada has an obligation to these workers, their families and the Air Canada Public Participation Act.”
The IAM represents more than 2,300 workers at Aveos facilities across Canada.
