Leaked Cascade Aerospace document shows company is planning to keep repairing aircraft even if skilled workers are off the job

ABBOTSFORD, BC, June 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor has obtained an internal memo from Cascade Aerospace that offers proof that the company is laying the groundwork to continue operations in the event of a legal job action at its facilities in Abbotsford.

"We are very concerned that other workers are going to be rushed in to perform work normally done by our skilled engineers and technicians," said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor's BC Area Director.

"Our members are highly skilled, and they do this work day in and day out. We think that customers and military personnel who will ultimately be using and flying in these aircraft have a right to know just who is doing the repairs," he added.

Over 400 Unifor members at Cascade Aerospace will be in a legal strike position on Wednesday, June 4 at 11 a.m. Unifor Local 114 represents 440 workers at Cascade Aerospace, including aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs), interior technicians, painters, stores, maintenance, planning clerks and sheet metal mechanics.

Abbotsford-based Cascade Aerospace is the primary DND contractor for repair and overhaul on the Hercules heavy transport plane fleet covering the Lockheed Martin C130 E, H and the new J models. The Unifor workers also help the firm repair commercial aircraft for firms such as CanJet and Lynden Air Cargo and are currently working on two Lockheed Martin C130 cargo planes for the Mexican government.

"Given the role of these workers at Cascade play maintaining aircraft that transport Canada's military personnel, I trust that the Department of National Defense will demand that Cascade halt work on these aircraft if our skilled members are off the job," said McGarrigle.

Unifor was founded Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, with more than 305,000 members including over 10,000 working in the Aerospace industry.

SOURCE: Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Representative Katie Arnup at 416-333-8097 (cell) or [email protected]