Cascade Aerospace

[avionicsdude]

Hey I have been contemplating a job at Cascade up in BC...and I have been researching the forum but the info is very limited if not a few years outdated. Just wondering if anybody working there would mind giving their 2cents! I know the money is crap and all that but aside from that what is the working environment/atmosphere there? Whats the job hiring process since I would be coming out of province ??? All i did was a phone interview etc! Is there a Medical/physical/drug to be done once I arrive there or do i pay for one locally and then go there?? Is there Relocation assistance?? What are the benefits like??? Is there better job security as say compared to AC etc (meaning does anybody foresee layoffs in the near future)?? Now I don't usually count my chickens before they hatch and I haven't been offered the job yet...but things are leaning in that direction plus I have already been offered a job in Newfoundland and since I already live on the East Coast, I don't want to commit to it as the prospect of moving to Warmer Pastures would be so much more enticing!
Any info would help
Cheers!

[UP&UP]

I say cascade are the shark pit if you are a person who can work in a dog eat dog world then this is the job for you. You will be asked for drug test credit check etc. You will be working on a rotating shift day and night. I don't think you will have a permanent position? Do some web searching on the company they have a few employees who got sick due to some chemicals.

[avionicsdude]

Thanks Up&Up. Do you work there? Or is this your feel for Cascade? Anybody else work there?

[iflyforpie]

I say cascade are the shark pit if you are a person who can work in a dog eat dog world then this is the job for you. You will be asked for drug test credit check etc. You will be working on a rotating shift day and night. I don't think you will have a permanent position? Do some web searching on the company they have a few employees who got sick due to some chemicals.

+1

I tolerated the place because I contracted there. When they offered me a position, I ran.

[UP&UP]

Yes I worked there. I had a contract with them but it almost destroyed my faith in work colleagues and the aircraft companies. Ask your self this work in a environment were your 2 cents is worth it, were people acknowledge you? or handle a stressful environment?were you are just a number like a robot, or move because you want better weather? Cascade rotates through people at a fast rate.

[avionicsdude]

Thanks Guys!!! ok when i comes to Avionics my experience is very limited so basically I am going (if I go) for the experience/knowledge to be gained! I am unlicensed and unless I get that card in my wallet I am pretty much going to be a lackie!! Is it a good place to Learn? are the people chill or are they Anal? every place has their good guys and the dog3ukers.... I come from a professional background and even there I can assure you its a dog eat dog world!!
They are doing mods on the 737NG and the Hercs....so it looks like there might be good info to be gained as well... I would rather work at a place where everything is rosy but this recession trumps my exceptional references as well as good grades and work is key right now!!

[bigbert]

drug test for sure...no more three7 mods just a line of westjet. Like people said it is like being a robot, but you learn not to fight the dog fucking, and also the managment is super unorganised, one hand does not talk to the other. and not to sound like an lazy unprofessional but I dont think i have had such an easy job in my life. For the most part people are super chill, and the chemical thing, people have to take responsibility for there own health wear your ppe, its as easy as getting a new respirator from the vending machine. Oh and there are a bunch of people in upper postions who shouldn't be there, but thats a union for you.

ps
Im suffering from massive allergies right now so i dont really care about my grammer and spelling

[Mechman22]

Cascade just laid off a bunch of AME's and SM techs, Avionics is busy at the moment but talking to one of the supervisors last week he told me that things are slowing down in that department as well. You most likely would be working on CL215's or Herc's. Cascade is a very disorganized company. The company see's you as a number not a person, the union and company relationship is very strained, no co-operation between the two. Contrary to your belief the pay is actually pretty good for this industry, thats why most people remain there because the atmosphere sure sucks, people always bitchin and complaining. They will give $5000 to relocate if you have a licience, if not its on your own. Beware, just because they paid for you to move doesn't mean they won't lay you off shortly after, like I said you are just a number. And Yes, this comes from personal experience.

[Pat Richard]

They will give $5000 to relocate if you have a licience

Wow, good thing I was sitting down when I read that....

If it is the case, they are the only ones I've ever heard of, that will do that.

Seems like right now, not too many experienced people are willing to relocate on their own dime, and I think there's actually more work, albeit full time, advertised on this site than this time last year.

Trouble seems to be there is no dire need for what most are advertising, especially when you have to pay to get there. Interesting recession, and it makes me wonder where all the experienced guys are going.
To all you low ball companies out there, hows' the pickings???

[avionicsdude]

Cascade just laid off a bunch of AME's and SM techs, Avionics is busy at the moment but talking to one of the supervisors last week he told me that things are slowing down in that department as well. You most likely would be working on CL215's or Herc's. Cascade is a very disorganized company. The company see's you as a number not a person, the union and company relationship is very strained, no co-operation between the two. Contrary to your belief the pay is actually pretty good for this industry, thats why most people remain there because the atmosphere sure sucks, people always bitchin and complaining. They will give $5000 to relocate if you have a licience, if not its on your own. Beware, just because they paid for you to move doesn't mean they won't lay you off shortly after, like I said you are just a number. And Yes, this comes from personal experience.

So you are saying that there may be layoffs on the horizon?? Since I am still green they are not paying for my relocation!! which means I am looking at around $3-4000 initially just to get set up over there!! Now is it worth the expense or am I going to find my self unemployed in BC in a couple of months? Which would suck as I rather be unemployed in Toronto where I have some sort of a support structure!!

[chowda]

I think you already know the answer.....

[bigbert]

I dont think there are anymore layoffs coming in the near future we are get a couple 1 ofs next month, but imo stay in ontario, the cost to live here is outrages compared to the wages, its next to impossible to live on anything less the 20ish dollars, especially without and family and friends

[Mechman22]

Cascade said they weren't going to lay anymore people off in 2009 when they finished laying off a crap load of people just before Christmas 2008. And here I find myself along with 50 other ex-Cascade employees on the EI line. You can't trust anything the management says and at Cascade you are just a number not a human being. I would stay where you are or find something else where.

[conehead]

Cascade said they weren't going to lay anymore people off in 2009 when they finished laying off a crap load of people just before Christmas 2008. And here I find myself along with 50 other ex-Cascade employees on the EI line. You can't trust anything the management says and at Cascade you are just a number not a human being. I would stay where you are or find something else where.

Do they still bring in workers from the Phillipines? I know they had permission from the Feds to do that, because they said they couldn't attract any local employees.

[planemikey]

Cascade Aerospace ....what can you say .......since the American Managemaent came in it went totally down hill moral wise and morality as well . Can't believe Barry let it go to pot . Customers do not return because of cost and eta overruns due to unorganization and in house Union Mgmt fueding . Union was the death pill but ineveitable because of the US managers and one in particular who then brought in all his cronies. Good for military jobs though cause they cause even more back ups with their red tape, paperwork and mind changing + allways pay. Comercial ops stay away due to their reputation spreading . Night shift blames day shift and vice versa . No one with any experience stays unless they are near retirement. Poisonous atmosphere that starts at the top and fows down hill. Unlike a toilet it does not go to a sewer to be treated it stays on the floor ......

[avionicsdude]

Hey I whats going on at Cascade in August after my drug test they said hiring was on hold till the end of september. Then in September hiring was down till September 2010 plus massive apparent lay offs, now they are looking for Avionics again?? Whats going on up there??

[dashx]

I have already been offered a job in Newfoundland

PAL?

[bigbert]

Hey I whats going on at Cascade in August after my drug test they said hiring was on hold till the end of september. Then in September hiring was down till September 2010 plus massive apparent lay offs, now they are looking for Avionics again?? Whats going on up there??

Lord knows, cause nobody else does! I don't think any avionics were laid off tho. BTW are there any companies in the lower mainland looking to hire an almost licenced mech?

[Mechman22]

What companies are looking to hire in the lower mainland???

[Mechman22]

Cascade is not a good place at the moment. They just let go a bunch of managers and support staff and they are threatening a bunch more layoffs to the guys on the floor. They have been short avionics staff, but if you go work for them they will get the project done that they needed you for and then let you go in the blink of an eye (they don't even give you 2 weeks notice). This is a company that doesn't really care about its employees, they just want to get each project done a fast as humanly possible, and tell the staff if they do so it will attract more contracts, and when it doesn't they lay off. This has been going on for the last year. Things could change in the future, but they have lost alot of peoples trust. This comes from personal experience.

[Mechman22]

Just to update you, Cascade gave out 45 layoff notices yesterday 22 of which were M guys, not sure of the rest of the break down. This company doesn't know whether its coming or going!

[freud]

Tough break for those guys. The more I hear about Cascade, the more I'm glad, I didn't apply to them.

[bigbert]

Just to update you, Cascade gave out 45 layoff notices yesterday 22 of which were M guys, not sure of the rest of the break down. This company doesn't know whether its coming or going!

The notices actualy haven't been given out yet, monday I think. However the union did get a list I word traveled very fast after words, and unfortunately my name is on that list So seriously this time anyone one know of any AMO's in metro Vancouver looking to hire and almost licenced mech? Or perhaps rotational where I don't need to move?

[bigbert]

You know a company and union hate each other when: The company allegedly delays a layoff because the union leaked the list. Honestly what a joke!

[conehead]

So seriously this time anyone one know of any AMO's in metro Vancouver looking to hire and almost licenced mech? Or perhaps rotational where I don't need to move?

Have you tried Air Canada? Or Aveos?