Thousands of Aveos employees, including about 400 in Winnipeg, have lost their jobs as a result of the company shuttering its operations.

The financially-troubled Montreal-based company did aircraft maintenance work for Air Canada with operations in Winnipeg along with in Montreal and in Vancouver.

The company has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Workers said they were shocked after receiving the news Sunday.

"The statement indicated that it was a permanent layoff – don't come into work on Monday morning," said Liz Miazga, a laid-off employee.

"I'm not sure what they're going to do - everybody counts on a pay cheque," said Lorne Hammerberg, president of the employees' union.

"We've been told our next line of communication would be through the Aveos.com website. Senior management are not returning our phone calls," said Hammerberg.

Workers gathered outside Conservative MP Steven Fletcher's office on Monday, demanding government action and answers from management.

Many workers also blame Air Canada for the contributing to the demise of Aveos.

Employees said Air Canada has been starving Aveos for business.

"If Air Canada doesn't bring their planes in, which they're contracted to do, then Aveos has no income and we have no income, so whose fault is it?" asked Jonathan Warren, another laid-off employee.

"It's clear that the problem starts when Air Canada decided to spin off this work by creating Aveos as a separate company. They created the conditions for this to happen," said David Camfield, a labour studies professor at the University of Manitoba.

He said, however, the blame can be shared between Aveos and Air Canada.

"Together what they've done is put the workers in a really terrible situation," said Camfield.

He believes the situation could get even worse.

Since Aveos has filed for bankruptcy protection, workers could potentially lose pensions and severance payments.

Camfield said there needs to be a change to government legislation to protect workers when their employers go bankrupt.

The workers also took their rally to the airport in Winnipeg, hoping Air Canada additionally hears their concerns.

Air Canada said they offered Aveos $50 million in emergency funding to finish off the planes they were currently working on. But there was no word Monday night if that offer will be accepted.

- with a report from CTV's Deborah Mensah-Bonsu and files from The Canadian Press