LETTER

Takeover of Bombardier’s C-series by Airbus

 

On July 1, 2018, Airbus officially became the majority partner of the C-Series Limited Partnership, [Bombardier]. The Machinists’ union wants us to remember that it is the workers who are the heart of Quebec’s Aerospace Industry.

The takeover of the C-series by Airbus must be seen as a chapter and not the end of the story. This aircraft, born of the know-how of Quebeckers, will continue to be manufactured in Mirabel, at least until 2041. Airbus has stated that Montreal will become one of its centres of activity. Our determination, genius and pride in working in aerospace are not owned by any private company.

Air Baltic has ordered 30 CS-300 with an option on 30, and several other carriers boast the merits of this aircraft. In two months, Bombardier received two orders totalling 45 CRJ 900 and an option for 15 others. In this situation where the skilled and high-quality aerospace workforce is scarce, we are in a good position.

The machinists’ union believes that aerospace will have to be at the heart of the next government’s economic strategy. With [Quebec & Federal] elections at our doorstep, it would be nice to remind the representatives of political parties that an aerospace strategy guided by the national interest has the potential to advance Quebec.

David Chartrand,
IAMAW (the Machinists’ Union)
Montréal