A/C Hiring

[samsquatch]

Heard Air Canada was hiring in YWG for maintenance. Anybody have any thoughts or knowledge on the job stability and the long term outlook?

[Cat19]

According to their website, Air Canada is hiring for Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (CAT 1) and Avionics (CAT 38) in Winnipeg. They are also looking for temporary Avionics Technicians in Vancouver. I can only assume that the temporary positions in Vancouver are for the A330 XM mods and are supposed to last until March 2009.

Not sure why they would need to advertise for these positions on a public website with so many mechanics currently on lay off status but whatever.

As far as "stability" goes, I don't think "stability" is a word you can use in the aircraft maintenance industry. Especially now with the economy the way it is.

If I were you, I would seriously consider doing something else for a living.

[conehead]

The workforce will be split up very soon, and any recently hired guys will find themselves employed by a company named "AVEOS". That is the new name for what was once called "Air Canada Technical Services".

By the way, Air Canada has the most poisoned work environment I have ever experienced. The constantly confrontational atmosphere is very wearing. I would not recommend Air Canada to anyone as a potential employer.

Seriously.

[kevin cantin]

IF they are misleading you about what company you will be working for, could they also be misleading you about job security and long term potential job

[Connaught]

edit
disgrunteled ex employee
/edit


long term security means long term periods on lay off wainting for recall


although laying me off led me to a land with no fishing license required

[CanadianLimey]

Hey Kevin,

It's Ray here, how the heck are you? I agree with your answer, about Air Canada. I quit because the BS was too much, with no firm answer on who we were working for. Then with the question of passes, pensions, and pay. Mmmm, I seem to remember a townhall meeting with the VP mentioning those points (the 3 Ps, as he called them), and how they have to look at each of them to stay competetive.

I've been out of loop with A/C but I hear it still all up in the air. Not a good time to be joining, assuming moral is as high as when I left *sic* Definately better companies out there.

[kevin cantin]

Hi Ray how are you good to hear from you. We are continuing to set people free on a weekly basis lol its not the the old AC but they are on hold with the transition talks to the new AVIOUS company seems the pension liability is a bit much to stomach for KKR they must be rethinking there investment.

[chatman]

Stay away from AC...It is an absolute joke. There are too many unknowns. 2009 strike, pay cuts, pension change, loss of flight benefits.

They are hiring like crazy to create a buffer for Ac and Aveos. Dont expect to work for a full year.

Mind you if your a dogf88er it would be a great job. Its a very lax work evironment. All you have to do is show up and get paid. You can also catch up on the latest movies on midnites..lol

[cntrctr]

I just took a recall working in YEG for AVEOS after 4 fun years working elsewhere and as a contractor. It seems like a good place to work - and there is lots of work, and this is one of the bases that they are hiring for. The guys all seem to get along well. I hear Winnipeg is a bad atmosphere but you don't necessarily have to stay there. I remember before taking layoff one of the managers had a chart of their upcoming heavy check work and there was a big bell curve on it that started about 4 years down the road, and here they are 4 years later - hiring. Go figure. The other guys are right about any new guy having to go to work for Aveos, but that may not be such a bad thing either depending on what they do with the pay and benefits. One of the problems that AMEs have had at AC is that the union is controlled by the baggage handlers (more numbers). Once Aveos breaks away then (I think) there will be a break between union locals and the AME's will be able to take more control of their own future. Also the company will be able to give one employee group more money without having to give the others the same (IF THEY WANT TO). Only time will tell, but for my money if I don't like what happens then I'll just go back to contracting.

[Cat19]

[quote="chatman"]Stay away from AC...It is an absolute joke. There are too many unknowns. 2009 strike, pay cuts, pension change, loss of flight benefits.
[/quote]

What company can you work for in this industry that does not have it's share of "unknowns"?

[ame25]

what si the starting pay for the cat1 job in ywg? anyone know?

[barefoot]

I was talking with my brother=in=law who works at AC or Aveos in YWG about all the BS that is going on there. For example.... Air Canada is still advertising and hiring(trying) CAT 1 and CAT 19. they conveniently forget to tell them that they will not be working for Air Canada, but this new unknown ?Aveos?. They are having a very hard time getting guys in the door, and when they do, alot have quit after finding out about the upcoming switch to Aveos. This means a few things...
The three things that have been sacred in the Air Canada world since the dawn of time, the three P's! are all going to change!! Pay- most likely going to be a freeze on wage, maybe even ask for concessions, Pension- well.... how does sixty cents on the dollar sound? And finally the last P- Passes, well they will be gone. So the magical days of commuting for work will soon be over.

[palebird]

Worked there for seven long years, nothing but broken promises and piles of BS plus the most toxic work environment I have ever seen....hey some people like it but way too much bs for me, watch your back...

[chatman]

what si the starting pay for the cat1 job in ywg? anyone know?

It all depends on your qualifications.....Learner 1 to 4, Junior Mech 1 to 4, AT 1 to 4, Lat 1 to 4
You should just go into Cat 13 with no restrictions..28.00 an hour to fix seats and change seat covers and install carpet, and catch a good movie and a snooze.

Rob in ywg who does the hiring is a huge a..hole. It is a very poisoned work environment. Flight benefits will be gone very soon and be prepared to be laid off many times in the near future.

[kevin cantin]

if you are a cat 1 or cat 38 cat 1 AME M cat 38 is AME E the pay is equal if you are an apprentice start about 18$ if you work up to AT 4 its about 28 if you come in with a AME and an aircraft endorsement negotiate dont come for less than 26 to start top out about 33 with licence in about 4 months it will be separate from AC and no flight passes and a tough round of negots if you still have a job there a year from now I'll eat the computer i'm typing on good luck if you live in ywg and need some cash apply if you are thinking about moving for the job think hard

[Pat Richard]

It's rather amazing to see what big red has deteriorated to, considering that this kind of cattle call years ago would have had AME's swarming to them.
Now, particularly considering the economic times, they're struggling even for callback's, let alone fresh people.

I never would have thought it possible that a company could tank so badly in terms of desirability.

Wow.

[PJ1]

I spent nine years there, quit in the fall. Very frustrating and toxic work enviroment. If any one is thinking of going there PM me, I will give you the unbiased truth about the place. The good and bad about both union and company. And there is a lot more bad.

[iflyforpie]

I'm so glad I got out of heavy maintenance except the occasional contract.

[mech1]

i am new here and i saw your post.............i am still working for ac..........my advice is stay away..........its poison poison poison............the work in yeg is temporary. the work for the most part will be sent to el salvador. only reason for the hiring is to buffer the sale of acts. most employees will go with ac and the rest will go to aveos. then they will decide if they need to keep you or not after that..........DON T DO IT. i promise it would be a huge mistake unless you just want something for short period of time.........

good luck

[PJ1]

I got a PM from someone about my thought's on AC I figure if it will save one its worth it.


I'll start with the good, the people that work there for the most part are a really good bunch. Everyone will stop and help you out. And there is a lot of socializing and good times you are guaranteed to make friends. About half the low level managers are good guy's trying they're best but they get shit on from both ends. The pay is OK for what you do, if you want to come in and just do panels and be brain dead you can. If you are eager, you will learn a lot. Its work as hard as you want or as little as you want if your a dog fucker you can wrap yourself in the union flag for protection.

I was on the union executive board, all I will say about that, it is a business they take your money and say that they represent your needs but they'r needs for dues outweigh your needs.

As a junior man get ready to work the shittiest shift on the floor. Also there will be a constant loom of lay-offs no matter what the economy is doing. Upper management looks at you as a total dissposable number. You are a cost. Removed with a stroke of a pen.

Another frustrating thing to watch is dog fuckers get lead positions strictly based on seniority. If you go to work there remember on thing you live and die by seniority.

Now pay attention this is the big one, you are NOT working for AIR CANADA you are working for a USA vulture fund by the name of KKR running the company banner as AVEOS. Formerly air canada technical services. In 2009 the union contract expires and all bets are off KKR owns aeroman down in el salvador. And as we speak they are building a 16 bay hanger down there it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that one. Pay you 30 bucks and hour here or pay a el salvadorian 3 bucks and hour.

There will be no flying benefits for you. They will offer up all that to get you in the door only to pull the rug from under you.


To sum it up, if you live in winnipeg, need a job, take it its not a bad temporary gig might get a endorsement out of it. What ever you do DO NOT RELOCATE here this is temporary.

hope that helps

ps: highly recommend you google: ACTS-KKR-AEROMAN-TACA educate your self. I did, and gave up almost ten years of seniority.

[c170b53]

If you have technical ability you can do much better, if you know nothing AC is a good place to start learning why the business isn't in your best bet.

[Cat19]

I can't believe the negativity in this thread! If you guys are so able to predict the future, why don't you just pick the lottery numbers and be done with it?

It's Human nature to see the glass half empty but, I'm sorry to tell you, you're dead wrong. The glass is half full and rising.

As far as "Poison work environment"????

What are you guys talking about? I have worked in maintenance in Vancouver for over 13 years...Canadian Airlines/Air Canada/ACTS. All the guys I have worked with are great guys! Always willing to lend a hand and give advice when needed. New employees are always welcomed with open arms and treated with respect.

"Poison work environment"? I haven't seen it.

As far as this trade goes, this is the best place to work...no doubt about it. Very relaxed...no pressure. Everybody gets along great. I can't imagine a better place to work in this trade. If you want to go work in a sweat shop...be my guest.

The old saying..."The grass is greener on the other side of the fence"...well...I'm on the side of the fence with the green grass...no question about it.

Aveos has a service agreement with Air Canada to at least 2013 and as far as El Salvador goes...that is no threat. They are busy with US contracts and there are no plans to send Air Canada metal down there. All the Canadian bases are currently running at capacity and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Recruitment from the streets is ongoing and even people who have quit the company are being called up and offered employment.

I'm very happy to stay right where I am. I'm confident that Aveos will become the largest and most profitable MRO in North America.

You guys who have prematurely jumped ship just want to express as much negativity on the company as you can and pray that it fails so you can justify the mistake you have made and make yourselves feel better.

Good luck in your future endeavours!

[PJ1]

thanks you gave me a great morning chuckle. keep drinking the coolaid. I was only reffering to my experience with ywg. Folks beware there is lots of these coolaid drinkers still walking around......

[chatman]

Cat 19.....ex Canadian that speaks volumes

What happened a couple years back with Delta in YVR? Take off your rose colored glasses. Its going to get a lot worse than getting better.
Layoffs in YWG will be looming once again very soon. Yes..there are a great group of guys at AC but thats not what is poisoned.

Boeing in Ywg just reduced the work week to 4 days to cut costs.

[conehead]

I'm confident that Aveos will become the largest and most profitable MRO in North America.

Wow... it's nice to hear from someone with such a positive outlook on life... I agree that Aveos has some good potential, just not sure if the will is there. After the Delta fiasco in YVR, it's obvious that some operations are indeed set up to fail. Having said that, it is true that there is a helluva lot of MRO work to be done in North America. It remains to be seen which companies will be doing that work. For instance, why is so much work being done on Air Canada metal at places like Rome, NY, or Nashville, TN ? I find it hard to believe that the resources don't exist in Canada to do this work...