GE Hydro to close Montreal plant in 2008, affecting 450 workers

[mtlurb]

GE Hydro to close Montreal plant in 2008, affecting 450 workers

 

1 hour ago

MONTREAL - The GE Hydro plant in the Montreal suburb of Lachine will close next June, eliminating 450 jobs.

 

The subsidiary of American giant General Electric has made more than half of the Hydro-Quebec turbines installed at the James Bay dams. The plant's activities will end with the completion of these contracts, employees were told.

 

The company said it is restructuring its activities, adding that its hydroelectric division has been losing money.

 

The laid-off workers are mostly welders, machinists and warehouse workers.

 

The closure of the 89-year-old facility is another blow to Montreal's manufacturing sector, which has been struck hard by the appreciation of the Canadian dollar and growing competition from emerging countries, particularly China.

 

At its peak production in the 1970s, GE Hydro employed more than 3,500 workers

[Habsfan]

wow, de 3500 employés dans les années 70 à 0 l'année prochaine...J'espère que ces gens se trouverons du boulot assez rapidement!