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Aveos machinists face layoffs, union says

WINNIPEG - More than 250 Winnipeg aerospace machinists have learned about looming layoffs, right in the middle of their Christmas shopping.

There are about 620 member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) working for Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. (formerly Air Canada Technical Services) in Winnipeg.

Union spokesman Lorne Hammerberg said today the union has been told as many as 255 of its Winnipeg members could be laid off in April, with about 85 people to be called back by the late summer.

Most of the airframe maintenance work Aveos does in Winnipeg is on Air Canada planes and Air Canada is expected have a marked reduction in its airframe maintenance work schedule by next spring.

Hammerberg said there is a general understanding that since Air Canada pared back its fleet and schedule last year, less maintenance work will be required.

An Aveos official in Montreal said the union’s statements are premature and that no decision on any layoffs has been made.

Micheal Kuhn said Aveos met union officials this week for the second time and a third meeting has been scheduled for early January.

"Our priority is to minimize the impact on employees and their families"

He said the company has identified that there will be a reduction of work in April and again in June, but that it will pick back up in July.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca

History

Updated on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 1:13 PM CST:
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