Irving shipyard to lay off workers as upgrades, demolition begins this fall:

HALIFAX - Irving will sink $300 million into upgrades that will make the Halifax Shipyard the “most modern shipyard in North America,”   according to company officials, but which come at the cost of layoffs for some.

Demolition of some structures in the shipyard’s north end has already begun, and the upgrades are scheduled to be complete in time for work to begin on the first set of ships ordered under a lucrative federal contract.

Scott Jamieson, vice-president of programs at the shipyard, revealed Wednesday morning that layoffs are expected by September as the shipyard wraps up work on a mid-life refit of patrol vessels.

Jamieson said that Irving is hoping to mitigate the layoffs through commercial contracts, and says 
the job cuts are necessary to proceed with the construction of new 
facilities.

He couldn’t give the number of employees to be laid off, 
but says a number of trades will be affected.

The company hopes some workers will be recalled when work 
on six to eight Arctic patrol vessels begins in 2015, Jamieson said.

Irving got a $260 million loan from the provincial 
government in March 2012 to assist with the shipyard’s upgrades.

They include the building of an assault hall and painting 
facilities.

Source: The News. By Ruth Davenport. 21 August 2013

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2013-08-21/article-3358680/Irving-shipyard-to-layoff-workers-as-upgrades,-demolition-begin-this-fall/1