News

OTTAWA – BA International, a division of Giesecki & Devrient, announced last week that it would be laying off almost all of the 200 employees currently employed at the Gladstone Avenue location.



“I’m shocked that this company would choose a few weeks before Christmas to tell their 200 employees that come June 2012 they would be out of a job”, said CEP 588g president Rob Currier, “They’re playing scrooge with the lives and families of those affected”, he added.



BA International has been located in the city of Ottawa since 1866 and produces currency including bank notes.



Some of the approximate 200 employees are also represented by; the Teamsters, the Amalgamated Transit Union and the Machinists Union. The average length of employment at the Gladstone Avenue plant is 32 years.



“We’ve got one guy who has been working here for over forty years and this is the thanks he gets. We’re closing shop so get lost”, said a frustrated Currier. He also said that the company was attempting to paint a rosy picture to media by playing with words claiming a number of the jobs will be retained yet BA International informed all employees and union representatives that only 30 or so would be kept.



The union said they would be meeting next week with the other unions at the plant to plan the next step which could include job actions.



The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada local 588g represents approximately 350 employees at BA International, the Canadian Bank Note, and the non supervisory printing services in the Federal Government.



Contacts:

Rob Currier (613) 203 1077

CEP Local 588g (613) 523 6730