Air Canada changes result in layoffs of 54 N.L. employees
CBC
More than 50 employees in Newfoundland and Labrador are receiving layoffs as Air Canada makes changes to its services at airports in Gander, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Deer Lake.
Beginning Nov. 1, PAL Airlines will be the new service provider under the Air Canada Express banner, and not solely Halifax-based Jazz Aviation, which currently holds the contract.
"We are making staffing changes required as a result of changes to Air Canada's schedule," reads a statement from Jazz Aviation.
"We do sincerely regret the impact to our employees and will do our utmost to support them during this time."
The statement said Happy Valley-Goose Bay will no longer be serviced by Jazz Aviation at all, resulting in 13 job losses there.
Services in Gander and Deer Lake are expected to remain open, possibly seasonally, but will also experience significant job losses.
Jazz Airlines employees are represented by Unifor.
According to national service representative Shayne Fields, Gander will lose 16 positions, while Deer Lake will lose 25.
Air Canada did not respond to messages from CBC as of publishing time.
"It's a gut punch hearing that news," Fields said.
"It's devastating to a lot of them …These are dedicated, loyal workers who probably feel a pit in their stomach right now. You know, they're angry, they're sad. They want answers. They want to continue to do the good work that they do."
Unifor is fighting Air Canada on the changes. Fields said the union is filing a number of grievances and lawyers are looking into possible contravention of labour standards legislation.
Unifor is also looking further into the capacity purchase agreement (CPA), which details how Air Canada outsources a portion of its business to other companies.
"I have put the employer on notice," Fields said. "Unifor is not going to sit on the sidelines quietly and watch this happen and just walk away. That's not what we're known for. That's not what we're going to do. And that's not what our members expect of us."
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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