THUNDER BAY — Worksharing begins this week at the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay.
Unifor Local 1075 President Dominic Pasqualino says it will avert the layoff of up to 200 workers for a few months, and may continue for more than a year.
"We're not sure how long it's going to run. It depends what happens in the plant," Pasqualino said Monday. "Hopefully we'll get some more work, and maybe that will change."
He said just over 300 union members are currently working in the plant.
Worksharing provides participants with employment insurance for the days they are off.
The last time the plant was on worksharing was May 2019 to February 2020.
Pasqualino said the Bombardier plant is currently producing 36 bi-level cars for Go Transit, as well as roofs for Metrolinx light rail vehicles being assembled at the company's facility in Kingston. Those vehicles are then sent to Thunder Bay for the installation of automatic train controls.
The Thunder Bay plant also has orders for 39 bi-level cars for two U.S. west coast transportation systems, but Pasqualino said work will be delayed by parts shortages.
Last month, the Toronto Transit Commission voted to order 13 new street cars from Bombardier, but there's been no decision yet on where those units will be produced.
Pasqualino has said that if the TTC gets government funding to support an order for 60 cars instead of 13, the Thunder Bay plant will have the inside track.
Late Monday, a spokesperson for Bombardier issued a statement saying the company had agreed with Unifor to proceed with a four-day work week (workshare) for many of its employees "to ensure we can keep as many people employed for as long as possible."
The statemente added "This is a necessary measure for us to take until we can get more substantial contracts for our plant. We are grateful for how supportive and collaborative the union has been during this time."
