We'll both be speaking.
Good evening. My name is Fred Hospes. I'm the president and directing general chairperson of the transportation district 140 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. I am here today with Dave Chartrand. I am the Quebec coordinator.
We thank the committee for this opportunity to appear before you to present our views on Bill C-10.
The IAM is the largest union at Air Canada and represents approximately 8,000 workers. When Air Canada was privatized in 1988 through the Air Canada Public Participation Act, we raised our concerns that Air Canada would move its maintenance and overhaul operations outside of Canada. The Progressive Conservative government of the day responded with legislation requiring Air Canada to maintain operational and overhaul centres in Montreal, Mississauga, and Winnipeg. In addition, the government and Air Canada stated publicly that the act guaranteed that aircraft heavy maintenance overhaul employment would be maintained and even grow in those communities.
Following the Aveos bankruptcy in 2012, the majority of Air Canada's aircraft heavy maintenance overhaul work was done outside of Canada. Make no mistake: we also represent the 2,600 Aveos workers who lost their jobs.
We have serious concerns with the introduction of Bill C-10. In particular, proposed subsection 6(4) of the act explicitly allows Air Canada to “change the type or volume of any or all of” its aircraft maintenance work “as well as the level of employment”.