The future of Bombardier’s rail division is in question with reports French transportation giant Alstom may be about to take over those operations.
Emily Jackson is a reporter with the Financial Post and explains that according to reports from Bloomberg and Reuters the talks are quite far along and an agreement could be reached as early as this week or next week. She notes Bombardier has been looking to shed some of its assets including its rail division.
However, Jackson points out, “as we know with these big business negotiations these talks also could completely fall through,”
Jackson agrees the workers at the Thunder Bay Bombardier plant have good reason to be concerned.
“I think it is a difficult position to be in to be a worker in Thunder Bay right now knowing that the company has essentially said we are reviewing our options,” said Jackson.
Unifor 1075 represents the local Bombardier workers and its president Dominic Pasqualino says members are asking him every day, “what does this mean for the plant?” Pasqualino tells them, “that remains to be seen.”
There are currently about 450 employees at the local operation who are currently assembling bilevel vehicles for Metrolinx but who are also hoping the company can secure a new contract.
Alstom is a rail company based in France, which, according to its website, “has been present in Canada for almost 80 years.” It operates four sites in the country, in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and, Sorel-Tracy, Quebec.
