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TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2013 /CNW/ - Unifor is applauding the $26 million proposed investment by the Ontario Government in the partnership between Centennial College and Bombardier Aerospace that would transform a former de Havilland aircraft plant in Downsview into a training and research facility.
"This kind of investment is exactly what we need to see in Ontario and right across the country, to promote good jobs and home-grown research and development," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "This recognizes that industrial innovation is not automatic, it only happens through multi-stakeholder partnerships with business, educational institutions, government and trade unions.
"This is an investment in future jobs for young workers, who are now struggling to find meaningful employment in today's labour market," said Dias. "We can do better and we should do better."
Dias added that the union has long been pushing for investment in aerospace research and development in Canada.
The announcement by Premier Kathleen Wynne was made this morning at Centennial College. The new aerospace hub would be located in Downsview Park.
The creation of an aerospace hub for training, research and development was also a suggestion of the federal Review of Aerospace and Space Programs and Policies, which was released in November 2012. Unifor, then as the Canadian Auto Workers union, participated in the review through a presentation and submission.
Dias began his working life as a worker at de Havilland Aircraft in Downsview, in the northwest end of Toronto.
Unifor represents the workers at Bombardier's de Havilland Aircraft in Downsview and approximately 10,000 aerospace workers across the country. Unifor is the largest union representing aerospace workers, with 300,000 members working in 20 different economic sectors.
Unifor was founded over this past Labour Day weekend, with the joining together of the Canadian Auto Workers union and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union.
SOURCE Unifor the union
