TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE IAMAW
Transport Committee Meeting Concerning Aveos
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Yesterday, in Ottawa, a delegation from the IAMAW appeared before the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (SCOTIC) to discuss the shutdown of Aveos. Included were Grand Lodge Research Director Louis Erlichman, Quebec Coordinator Gilles Brosseau, District 140 General Chairpersons Tony Didoshak and Jean Poirier, Local Lodge 764 President Christopher Hiscock as well as myself.
We read out a prepared statement for the Committee and then answered questions from the MPs for approximately two hours.
It was made very clear that we felt that the Federal Government needed to not only commit to supporting the members who have lost their jobs but the entire Canadian Aircraft Maintenance industry in Canada.
We did receive support from the Official Opposition. However, the SCOTIC committee is dominated by Conservative MPs who will not commit to assistance of any kind for the thousands of people who are without a job because of the Aveos closure.
The delegation then met with Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair and members of his staff, who have agreed to keep pursuing our agenda with the Federal government as they have done from the very beginning in their role as the Official Opposition.
Since the Harper Conservatives do not seem concerned about the loss of thousands of highly trained professional jobs in this country, they need a wake-up call.
We are asking ALL IAMAW MEMBERS to contact their Member of Parliament and ask to meet with him or her in order to discuss the Aveos shutdown and the state of the aviation industry in Canada. This meeting needs to be face to face, not just by phone or e-mail.
The IAMAW is working hard to get investors and/or others that are interested in building a company that will replace Aveos and provide full-time employment, thereby ensuring the future of our members.
Our Sisters and Brothers who are without jobs need your help. We also have a team of lawyers working on a full-time basis to ensure that our members get what they are entitled to under the law.
In solidarity,
Chuck Atkinson
President and Directing General Chairperson
