THUNDER BAY — More than 400 workers at Thunder Bay's Bombardier Transportation plant are being recalled.
Unifor Local 1075 President Dominic Pasqualino says the plant will resume production on Monday, Apr. 27, as scheduled.
The company suspended production at its Ontario and Quebec operations on March 24 as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
Pasqualino said the 420 employees who were laid off in Thunder Bay will be working under new health protocols developed by the company and the union in consultation with provincial health officials.
He said he had just finished a conference call where numerous safety procedures were outlined, including using debit or credit cards in the cafeteria instead of cash.
"They have a protocol for cleaning the tools. All these things are being worked out, similar to what they would be doing in the paper mills right now. And [the mills] have been doing this right through. They have never stopped," Pasqualino said.
He added that he believes Bombardier is taking the necessary steps to make sure its workers can stay safe.
An individual who identified himself as a company employee contacted Tbnewswatch, questioning the wisdom of restarting the plant.
"Four hundred plus employees would be using the same washrooms, eating in one cafeteria, working inside enclosed rail cars together, sharing tools...Seems dangerous," he wrote.
Pasqualino, however, said a range of mitigating measures including staggered shifts, staggered lunch breaks, and social distancing at all times will make the workplace safe.
Asked how his union members feel about the risk, he said "people are cautious" but they are also anxious "to get some normalcy back in their lives, and start earning a paycheque."
For workers who remain fearful, Pasqualino said "hopefully we can make the place safe and comfortable...so it will alleviate their fears. We can all work in a responsible manner."
The recalled workers have various tasks, including building 36 bi-level rail cars for Metrolinx, the provincial agency that manages transportation in the Greater Toronto/Hamilton region.
An additional 35 to 50 Unifor members are being called back from layoff to work on the production of ventilators for hospitals.
It was announced last week that the plant will assemble the shells for 18,000 ventilators over the course of three or four months.
