Shipyard axes management jobs
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: November 19, 2009 4:15 PM
With choppy economic seas, the Washington Marine Group had no choice but to throw its "shoreside staff" overboard.
The company axed an undisclosed number of office management jobs at sites in Victoria, Esquimalt and Vancouver yesterday.
George McPherson, president of the Shipyards General Workers Federation, heard up to 50 people were let go.
"We never like to see people lose their jobs, but we recognize in these times they've got to tighten their belts and try to figure out where the economy is and when it's all coming back," he said.
He said it's just another indicator of the global economic slump – a readjustment after similar cutbacks to marine workers earlier this year.
"I thought they were a little top heavy," said McPherson.
Washington Marine Group wouldn't say how many jobs were affected, only that some cuts took place in Victoria and Esquimalt.
The cuts also affected the Vancouver Drydock and Shipyards companies as well as marine transportation company, Seaspan International and Seaspan Coastal Intermodal company.
Marine group CEO Jonathan Whitworth said in a press release the decision was "very difficult."
McPherson said it's only a matter of months before business pick up again.
He predicts there will be a shortage of workers, similar to 2008 when skilled labour was in high demand.
"We've gone through these peaks and valleys for years and we're in a valley right now, we're just waiting to start our way back up and I believe that's just around the corner."
lweighton@vicnews.com
