Asian imports replacing contractors at Cascade??

chowda · Post by **chowda** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:11 am

Anyone know if this for real? Been hearing this from different people, that filipinos are being brought in to replace Canadian contractors.

Would like to know how true this is.

motox415 · Post by **motox415** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:14 pm

Heard this aswell. I was told they are on their second batch. Again do not know if this is true or not.

Vickers vanguard · Post by **Vickers vanguard** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:01 pm

not surprising at all......Cascade is becoming the Voyageur of the west !

dashx · Post by **dashx** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:48 pm

Hey one more Voyageur bashing......

Wait - wasn't the head of Air Canada american???

Is it possible Cascade can't find "qualified" AME's for their open positions? There are laws regarding bringing workers from outside of Canada. They would have to prove to the Gov't that they can't find qualified AME's in Canada. Is it possible they have done the right thing?

How many Cdn AME's work in the middle east? Asia? Caribbean?

conehead · Post by **conehead** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:59 pm

Since Air Canada announced the 700 lay-offs in YVR, Cascade has approached them about hiring something like 100 guys...

KISS_MY_TCAS · Post by **KISS_MY_TCAS** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:20 pm

Well now there is an interesting scenario...AMEs being their own worst enemy again? A release on a CDN registered aircraft needs to be signed by an AME, so someone there is allowing it in that regard, bring on cheap labour through immigration and CAMC certs and drive the industry down again. If they are bringing in ex-AC guys, good for them, Cascade will be on another hiring spree when the callbacks come, maybe they can land a few more new citizens

. Funny industry in this country, we demand too much here so they immigrate boatloads so the home-grown boys can cross the pond where the money is. Don't tell the new citizens that though, or it will dry up over there too.

Weekendatbernie's · Post by **Weekendatbernie's** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:58 pm

Apparently Voyageur is hiring a boat load of Asians.

conehead · Post by **conehead** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:28 am

KISS_MY_TCAS wrote:Cascade will be on another hiring spree when the callbacks come,

I don't think there will be callbacks from this layoff. This is a permanent closure of YVR Heavy Maintenance for Air Canada.

bigbert · Post by **bigbert** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:14 am

Well they are only hiring the filipinoes because they couldnt hire enough canadians, they need workers and its not their fault no one wanted to go over and work there.

motox415 · Post by **motox415** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:27 pm

They called me up a couple of months ago wondering if I would be interested in working there. After the wage they offered me, I am not surprised they have to go overseas to get people. But then again there is a shortage of A.M.E. 's in this country who will work for nothing.

Vickers vanguard · Post by **Vickers vanguard** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:32 pm

bigbert wrote:Well they are only hiring the filipinoes because they couldnt hire enough canadians, they need workers and its not their fault no one wanted to go over and work there.

they couldn't find enough cheap Local AMEs you mean !!! but hey! given who run the company....not surprised at all.......

Pat Richard · Post by **Pat Richard** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:57 pm

Well they are only hiring the filipinoes because they couldnt hire enough canadians, they need workers and its not their fault no one wanted to go over and work there.

I heard the local contractors are to be let go when the filipinos show up. If true, how does that address the "shortage" cascade claims there is. Also how the hell is this legal? Can you displace Canadian workers for the only reason to replace them with cheaper imports? Does Cascade not hold a government contract(hercs)? If the answer to the above is "yes", Id like to know how the hell the government allows this to happen.
Some very loud noise should be made about this if it is true.

And about their pay rates... you're going to get shit for people when you offer the money they have been. As a contractor, the agencies are offering 39 a/hr flat rate. No accomadation, no perdium, no to/from work transport, nothing. Go figure why anyone who isnt local tells them to go pound sand.
I don't imagine their fulltime rates are any more attractive judging by their lack of recruitment success.
I keep saying, show some real money, and the industry will sell itself. Not fu#*ing rocket science

KISS_MY_TCAS · Post by **KISS_MY_TCAS** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:20 am

Well said Pat.

There isn't a shortage of AMEs right now, there is a shortage of attractive offers which prohibits movement from current employers, everyone is in a stalemate because there is no incentive to switch employers.

Cascade does in fact have a 5 year government Herc contract, I know several people that were approached by Cascade for employee recruitment positions but every one of them turned the job down. Perhaps they were privy to what Cascade was planning, or maybe the wage offered kept them away but again history repeats itself and cheap labour wins, and our own government is onboard. Perhaps someone should blow the cover on this one, I think our Armed Forces has suffered enough already in the past couple of decades without needing to source out their maintenance to the lowest bidder. Absolutely disgusting IMO.

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:20 am

There was a shortage of people in the lower mainland area until AC announced it's layoffs. Now there will be a surplus how in the hell do they still manage to get these people into the country?? Cancel their contracts.. How does it work when Canadians are out of work and we are importing people to take jobs that they would take??

Pat Richard · Post by **Pat Richard** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:31 am

There isn't a shortage of AMEs right now, there is a shortage of attractive offers which prohibits movement from current employers, everyone is in a stalemate because there is no incentive to switch employers.

Now there will be a surplus how in the hell do they still manage to get these people into the country?? Cancel their contracts.. How does it work when Canadians are out of work and we are importing people to take jobs that they would take??

Bingo....

boeingboy · Post by **boeingboy** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:45 am

I don't know what it is with Cascade, but I know more than a few guys who were more than qualified and never even got interviewed. They are always crying for people but won't even interview some people.

It's like an old boys club or something.

And now they have started a new program - they are gearing up to convert CL-215's to turbine. Even more work - So they will really be short now.

Human Factor · Post by **Human Factor** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:32 pm

I heard that Borek's got a bunch of Sri Lankan guys working in their Calgary hangar now, is this true?

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:15 am

Yup, but they are landed immigrants or citizens..

West Coast is the same.. These guys worked in the Maldives and have lot's of -6 experience.. They've all moved here and are not here for the short term.

Human Factor · Post by **Human Factor** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:25 pm

twotter wrote:Yup, but they are landed immigrants or citizens..

West Coast is the same.. These guys worked in the Maldives and have lot's of -6 experience.. They've all moved here and are not here for the short term.

They must love Calgary winters!

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:19 am

A bit of a shock to most of them.. But they handle it, if you've ever seen where they come from, you would understand that they are a tough bunch.. Beautiful country, but it's got it's problems..

Vickers vanguard · Post by **Vickers vanguard** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 2:25 pm

twotter wrote:A bit of a shock to most of them.. But they handle it, if you've ever seen where they come from, you would understand that they are a tough bunch.. Beautiful country, but it's got it's problems..

I worked with a lot of them (srilankans) back in the Middle East.....and most of them were top notch.....a lot of expertise on the L1011.

mapledell · Post by **mapledell** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:00 pm

Is it possible the Filippino's were brought in before the Air Canada layoff and now Cascade has to re-evaluate the situation?

I spent some time on the Twin Otter overseas and I am glad to hear that Borek was able to help out some of the local talent in the Maldives.

buck · Post by **buck** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:20 am

It is true. As of friday Canadian contractors were laid off. I know this for a fact because I work there. We are now losing some awesome help and experience. Guys that have been here for a few years and all have 737/727,757 AND C130 experience. Some came as contractors because they would not hire them as direct employees. And why is that?
1. Numbers. Get as many people in the hanger before the Canadian Forces General shows up to see what the @#$! is taking so long to get his planes back up in the air. (Also we are on the verge of losing the last 737 contract.... Alaska Airlines. Supposed to go to 1 line over summer and then they will either take the work to AAR in OKlahoma city or back to Goodrich in Everett, Wa.)
So, that is what they did. They hired Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents and played by the book. Then they were still short on manpower so they go to Government and say hey we can't get enough workers. So, they give them permission to go abroad and hire foreigners. But they don't go to where there is alot of Hercules and 737 experience. They go to where it is cheap. The Philipines. Now there 40-50 philipinos with little experience,Few tools and the nobody wants to work with them, loan them tools
Now what they have done is tricked the General showing we got the numbers, and 2 weeks after he leaves and the second batch of philipinoe contractors show up they get rid of the experienced mechanics that speak fluent english and now start to suck up all that taxpayer money coming from the government.
This is the second time that they have done this as far as I know.
So, what I am wondering is does the General know about this???????????
He was here just 2 weeks ago pleading with us to work more hours, harder and even asked us to work faster.
-what is the generals name and how do you contact him?
-can we get some help here? Many people whining, bitching but nothing being done.
WHO DO WE CONTACT TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF????
WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING ALL OVER CANADA??? BECAUSE NOBODY DOES ANYTHING. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO TO CALL AND TALK TO AND I WORK HERE. THE UNION DOES NOTHING FOR US SO I ASSUME THAT THEY ARE IN BED WITH CASCADE.
CAN WE STRIKE OVER THIS?
LET'S HELP EACH OTHER OUT AND GET SOME GOOD INFO FLOATING AROUND.
I am open to ideas and suggestions. thanks, Buck. please message me.

conehead · Post by **conehead** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:19 am

buck wrote:WHO DO WE CONTACT TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF????

Maybe start with your Member of Parliment? I agree, something should be done about this.

plainfixer · Post by **plainfixer** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:33 pm

I was approached by CAS and Cascade last year to come work on their C130 contract.
I have many years experience in the field on C130's AND I have the rating on my Canadian licence.
Why did I say no? 1) the pay rate from both parties were crap. 2)And Cascade has a habit of laying people off faster than air canada.
If Cascade has sponsored any immigrants into canada, they (Cascade) is responsible for them and is ALLOWED to layoff a canadian citizen to keep the sponsored immigrants working. This has been the case for many years. happened to me 10yrs ago.
Cascade management has no regard for its employees. They do not view employees as an asset. This culture comes about when "Bean counters" have an influential mark on company operational decisions.
You want to know why many good people get missed by HR? HR's policy is to screen thru the CV's and only accept the ones with "Ratings on type". Experience means zilch.
So for example, someone gets laid off, gets "EI" to pay for a 757 rating course, then that person gets a job at cascade. They have no experience at all and wander around confused. Then you see a person who turns up as a contractor, has heaps of knowledge and gets things fixed, but has no rating on type, just heaps of experience on type.
Word of advise to all, "The only thing that matters is whats on your licence." you can carry your licence and ratings to another company, not the ACA.

Asian imports replacing contractors at Cascade??

Asian imports replacing contractors at Cascade??

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canadian contractors laid off!!!!

Re: canadian contractors laid off!!!!