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Union optimistic after 50 ONR jobs announced

“It’s welcome news for sure, our members needed to have hope back into that place.”
ONR shop july 2016
ONR employees working on a rail car Thursday afternoon shortly after the new jobs were announced. Photo by Chris Dawson.

With the rumours of more layoffs and uncertainty on the minds of many Ontario Northland workers over the past few years, the news of 50 new ONR jobs this year and 80 over the next four years was music to the union and its members ears.  

On Thursday, ONTC President & CEO Corina Moore announced that the ONR was awarded a contract with CANARAIL which will see the local remanufacturing and repair centre refurbish 11 Rocky Mountaineer luxury passenger rail cars over the next four years.   

Andy Mitchell, the UNIFOR local 103 President, believes the new $20 million dollar contract helps their facility grow back to where it once was before the divestment days.  

“It’s welcome news for sure, our members needed to have hope back into that place,” said Mitchell.   

“We still have some reductions in the clerical group that we are dealing with but otherwise, the 50 jobs are coming back, that’s good to hear. That will be bringing us up to pre-divestment days. Ever since they announced the divestment, through attrition and some other means, staffing has dropped. So this is bringing us back to where we were.”  

Moore called the announcement a turning point for the ONR, and more good news may be on the way.  Mitchell hopes the good news continues. 

“There are other opportunities out there, I will leave that up to Corina to explain where they are looking at jobs and contracts and stuff like that,” said Mitchell.  

“The workmanship that Ontario Northland puts out is above anybody else, and Rocky Mountaineer, they realized that. That means a lot going into a contract and the time we are going to put towards ensuring everybody knows their job, and continuing with this high level of workmanship.” 


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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