The B.C. Legistlature unanimously passed a joint resolution in support of laid-off Aveos aircraft maintenance workers Thursday (March 29) afternoon.
On Tuesday, at the legislature, NDP leader Adrian Dix had asked Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, to support a joint resolution asking for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to intervene in the dispute between Air Canada and aircraft-repair firm Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. to protect 350 skilled jobs in Richmond.
Dix had suggested the parties could send a joint delegation to Ottawa to make an impact on a debate that could exclude British Columbia if we dont speak with a powerful voice.
At the time, Bell had expressed his interest, but refused to commit himself to anything until he talked to federal Transport Minister Denis Lebel.
More than 2,600 people were thrown out of work after Aveos announced March 20 it was liquidating its Canadian aircraft maintenance business.
The closure may have left Air Canada in violation of the Air Canada Participation Act, which requires the airline to maintain operational and maintenance centres in Montreal, Mississauga and Winnipeg.
Since 2004, most of the work in those cities has gone to Aveos, a private company in which Air Canada owns about a 20 per cent share.
Dix met with 55 former Aveos employees who lost their jobs when the company filed for bankruptcy protection last week. A smaller group also met with Bell.
Christopher Hiscock, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 764, said the delegation had gone to Victoria hoping for this result similar to a unanimous vote by the Quebec National Assembly last week calling on the federal government to uphold the Air Canada Participation Act and keep aircraft maintenance business in Canada.
He left feeling positive about the meeting. We did get a commitment from the minister that he would work with us and that he and the NDP would work together.
We made it clear this is above partisan politics. This is too important to play politics, Hiscock said. These are 350 skilled jobs and time is of the essence here.
The mayors of Montreal, Winnipeg and Mississauga also wrote to Harper asking him to intervene.
with files from Vancouver Sun
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