Laid off Aveos employees rallied at the Manitoba Legislative Building Friday to raise awareness about massive job losses.
The rally comes just as Mayor Sam Katz joined the mayor of Montreal and the mayor of Mississauga in asking the prime minister to call an emergency meeting and intervene to help save the aircraft maintenance jobs.
The financially troubled aerospace firm closed its Winnipeg plant Sunday, leaving over 300 workers in the city out of work. Aveos also closed plants in Montreal and Mississauga, resulting in over 2,600 people losing their jobs.
The workers are hoping that municipal, provincial and federal governments will work together to find a solution to the layoffs.
The union president said politicians have been supportive since the plant in Winnipeg closed. "We're not sure why Aveos – the restructuring – failed," said Lorne Hammerberg of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
"Whether or not it was through their efforts maybe being met by closed doors with Air Canada, we're not sure," Hammerberg said.
