More than 200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) rallied Monday at the YVR Sea Island SkyTrain station to protest Monday’s announcement that Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. has closed, putting more than 2,600 IAM members out of work, including around 350 at YVR.
The IAM members were also protesting the interference of the federal government in recent Air Canada negotiations.
Aveos – an independent, full service maintenance, repair and overhaul provider to the aviation industry – shut down its airframe maintenance service operations March 18.
Joe Kolshak, Aveos president and CEO, said, “This was an extremely difficult decision, one we made only after lengthy and careful consideration of all other options. We deeply regret the job losses and the impact this decision has on our employees in Canada.”
The company said it was forced to file Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings in part due to uncertain work volume from its principal customer, Air Canada.
According to Aveos, since the beginning of the year, the airline has reduced, deferred and cancelled maintenance work, which resulted in approximately $16 million in lost revenue in less than two months.
