Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Motor Coach to lay off 190 Winnipeg workers around Christmas
By: Staff Writer
Posted: 10/19/2012 8:45 AM |
Comments: 134 | Last Modified: 10/19/2012 12:55 PM |
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BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES
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Motor Coach Industries has announced 190 layoffs to come before the end of the year.
Nearly 200 people will be laid off from the Winnipeg plant of Motor Coach Industries around Christmas time, a union official says.
Glenn Tomchak, president of Local 1953 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said the bus manufacturer informed union members on Thursday that jobs will be lost.
"About 190 people will be laid off at the Christmas break," Tomchak said. "That's not a good time for anyone to be losing their job. They'll be spending money... it'll be hard on families."
Tomchak said many of the workers had just been hired during the past few months.
"Obviously, it seems things have taken a downturn," he said. "Some quit jobs to come here, only to find out they'll have no jobs at Christmas. It's sad."
Most of the layoffs will come from the production line, like skilled welders and painters, he said.
An official from Motor Coach Industries said a spike in business in the summer required additional workers, but as that work is completed the company needed to reduce the workforce back to previous levels.
A company spokeswoman said that its unionized workforce has remained fairly stable over the last few years at around 500 workers.
In total the company employs a little more than 1,000 people in Winnipeg.
Motor Coach Industries is based in the Chicago area.
Motor Coach to lay off 190 Winnipeg workers around Christmas - Winnipeg Free Press