Media Advisory - "We haven't forgotten": Community to rally against Harper during photo-op at aerospace facility

ABBOTSFORD, BC, Oct. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper's last campaign stop will be met with a noisy protest of his failure to protect and create good jobs.

"The Harper record on job creation and economic growth is dismal—it's the worst in the post-war era," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "The Fraser Valley region is no different. This community owes the Harper government nothing."

Cascade Aerospace is the primary Department of National Defense (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. When Cascade workers walked off the job in 2014 after the employer attempted to cut benefits, the Harper government—the company's largest customer—sat idly by.

"We haven't forgotten. The Harper government has no track record of fighting for good jobs, in Abbotsford or anywhere else," said Joie Warnock, Unifor's Western Director.

WHAT: Stop Harper rally
WHEN: Sunday, October 18, 4:45 p.m.
WHERE: Cascade Aerospace gates, 1337 Townline Road, Abbotsford
WHO: Unifor members and concerned Abbotsford residents

Unifor Local 114 represents a bargaining unit of 440 workers at Cascade Aerospace, including aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs), interior technicians, painters, stores, maintenance, planning clerks and sheet metal mechanics.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at 778-903-6549 (cell) or [email protected]