Miramichi News: DEW lays off shift

Miramichi - Nov 10, 2011

According to a recent laid off employee, DEW Engineering informed up to 30 of it workers on Thursday that their jobs were being eliminated immediately. The workers were employed fabricating armour panels for military vehicles called M1126 Stryker ICV. Workers were told that demand for armour was decreasing, and half the people working in this department would be laid off. The employee said DEW also estimated the Stryker contract would conclude in about 1 year, effecting the rest of the employees in this department.

Workers being laid off are going to be paid severance and holiday pay, something that this particular worker, who had been laid off other times in the past, says is new and makes him feel this is permanent. "Time to start looking for something out west," he said.

The worker says DEW also has a contract to modify shipping containers for military purposes,and employees were told this contract could last 3-4 years. Beyond that, the furture is uncertain.