Unifor union has issued this statement:

Unifor is fighting Air Canada’s decision to lay off more than 50 Jazz members in Newfoundland and Labrador as the company makes changes to its services in Gander, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Deer Lake.

Currently, Halifax-based Jazz Aviation holds the contract of providing aviation services under the Air Canada Express banner, but starting Nov. 1, PAL Airlines will also be in the fold.

Jazz Aviation said it’s making staffing changes as a result of Air Canada’s changing schedule.

There are 13 job losses in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which will no longer be serviced by Jazz Aviation at all. Gander will lose 16 positions, while there are 25 job cuts in Deer Lake.

Unifor is filing a number of grievances and lawyers are looking into possible contravention of labour standards legislation. The union is also researching the capacity purchase agreement (CPA), which details how Air Canada outsources a portion of its business to other companies.

The union is open to dialogue on the issue and would prefer to resolve the issue in a manner that would benefit both the company and the affected Unifor members.