THUNDER BAY - Bombardier has announced it will temporarily suspend work at all Canadian operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shutdown, which will take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday and last until April 26, will include the Thunder Bay Bombardier plant.
“Employees impacted by these temporary shutdowns will be placed on furlough, as will corporate office employees whose support functions are less critical in the short-term,” the company said in a statement posted to it’s website.
“During this furlough period, Bombardier’s CEO and senior leadership team will forgo their pay, and the Chairman and members of Bombardier’s Board of Directors have agreed to forgo board compensation for the remainder of 2020.”
According to Dominic Pasqualino, president of Unifor Local 1075, the local Bombardier plant was already into a second week of a two-week shutdown, with only 70 workers of the 400 still working at the plant doing inventory.
But with the news just coming out today that all operations in Canada will be suspended, Pasqualino said all the details were not completely worked out.
“This is all really new and doesn’t seem like everything has been worked out yet,” he said.
Pasqualino added there is a possibility the shutdown could extend beyond April 26 because it is such an evolving situation.
“This could all change dramatically. It’s a big difference,” he said. “Where it is going to be in another week or months from now, no one really knows.”
The company is also suspending its 2020 financial outlook in order to evaluate the impact the temporary shutdown will have on its operations.
“Since the corona virus outbreak, the company has been focused on keeping our employees safe, serving our customers to the best of our ability during these difficult times and taking the necessary actions to protect our business for the long term,” said Pierre Beaudoin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bombardier Inc.
“In addition to the actions announced today, Bombardier has cut all discretionary spending, is continuing the work on closing the previously announced transactions and is pursuing additional measures to enhance liquidity.”
According to Pasqualino, there are concerns from workers about conditions in the plant and maintaining proper social distancing.
“A lot of members have reached out to me and are concerned about going back,” he said. “Once we get back working in the plant, there is a lot of two man jobs that has to hold a part up, while another one drills it. I don’t know how that will work out.”
Pasqualino added he has heard talk about Bombardier plants being used to produce respirators or ventilators, but he is not sure if that’s a possibility or will even happen.
“I don’t know if we have the technology, or the cleanliness standards, but if you were looking to build respirators all of a sudden, maybe we will be calling people back,” he said. “Or maybe there won’t be anyone working there because of the COVID virus.”
The Thunder Bay plant recently underwent significant layoffs, with more than 500 employees leaving the plant floor due to contracts concluding at the end of 2019.
Earlier this year it was also announced the Paris-based company Alstom is planning to acquire Bombardier Transportation in North America.
