Gander jobs announcement Liberal 'posturing' says union

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 | 2:53 PM ET

CBC News

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says a Liberal promise to move jobs to Gander is political posturing and came as a surprise to the union.

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PSAC said on Wednesday that workers with the Canadian Ice Service were not given notice before an announcement that their jobs could be moved from Ottawa to Newfoundland.

Liberal MP Scott Simms said on Friday that 75 jobs with the Canadian Ice Service will move to Gander and St. John's if the Liberals are re-elected.

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Bill Pynn, national president of the environment component of PSAC, said senior department officials were unaware that the announcement was coming.

"What we're looking at right now is political posturing to gain some support in the region for the Liberals."

PSAC is one of two unions that represent the affected workers.

Kevin King is the president of the company that owns the only hangar available in Gander that could handle the Dash-7 aircraft used by the Canadian Ice Service.

He said his company has not yet been asked whether it can accommodate the planes.

"We don't have any details," he said. "We'll certainly be following with interest to see as it develops."

In addition to the Canadian Ice Service jobs, the Liberals are offering to add a small number of jobs to the Gander weather office, so that local forecasts can be interpreted.

Town leaders have said the Liberal promise has come too little, too late.

Simms, who is fighting for re-election in Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, said Environment Minister Stephane Dion approved the decision before it was announced last week.

Liberal Leader Paul Martin has also put the election promise in writing.