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THUNDER BAY, ONT.— Unifor applauds today’s federal government announcement that Alstom has been awarded a $4.7 billion contract to build 313 passenger cars for VIA Rail, securing significant work for Unifor Local 1075 members at the company’s Thunder Bay facility.
“This is a tremendous victory for our members in Thunder Bay and for Canadian manufacturing. It’s also an important investment in public passenger rail, securing an important service for Canadians – a service proudly provided at VIA by Unifor members across the country,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“Our members at Thunder Bay have the skills and experience to build world-class passenger railcars right here in Canada. This contract recognizes their expertise and ensures that Canadian public procurement dollars support Canadian workers, families, and communities. It took a trade war to get us here, but let’s keep building Canada by Canadians and for Canadians.”
The contract means for the first time in four decades, VIA Rail passenger cars will be built in Canada, as part of VIA Rail’s renewal of its long-distance, regional, and remote passenger fleet.
The cars will be manufactured and assembled in Alstom’s Thunder Bay plant and La Pocatière, Que., with design and engineering work taking place in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.
“At a time when workers and industries are facing unprecedented economic threats from the United States, governments must use every tool available to strengthen our domestic manufacturing capacity,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier.
Work at the Thunder Bay facility is expected to create approximately 700 jobs in Quebec and Ontario and generate more than $1.6 billion in economic benefits.
Unifor has advocated strongly for the VIA Rail procurement to include Canadian content and create work in Canada. In March, the union wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney urging the federal government not to allow the generational investment in Canada’s passenger rail system to bypass Canadian workers.
“’Made-in-Canada’ can’t just be a slogan. It must mean awarding publicly funded work to facilities right here at home and creating good union jobs in Canada,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi.
“Our members are proud of what they build, and they have proven they have the experience to deliver high-quality rail vehicles for Canadians.
Alstom announced it will invest $38 million in upgrades to the Thunder Bay plant.
The Alstom plant in Thunder Bay has historically played a central role in Canada’s rail manufacturing industry. Unifor Local 1075 members at the facility have built and refurbished passenger rail and public transit vehicles for communities across the country.
Unifor represents approximately 5,500 members who build and maintain buses and rail vehicles at five manufacturing facilities across Canada, including facilities in Thunder Bay and Winnipeg and in Sainte-Claire and Saint-Eustache, Que.
