Davies said the average wage is $35 per hour.

The facility, which was purchased by Wynnchurch Capital in 2012, when Northstar went into bankruptcy, employs skilled tradesmen, technicians, machinists, general labourers, and shipper/receivers. The plant operates around the clock with both eight- and 10-hour rotating shifts. Many employees regularly collect overtime as well, Davies said.

The plant specializes in manufacturing high-precision metal products used by aircraft and helicopters, including specialized gears for transmissions used on Boeing’s Apache helicopter. Used by the U.S. army, the Apache serves as an attack helicopter.

Northstar is best known locally for work it produced for the Canadian Space Agency’s Canadarm.

Unifor said it will work with employees affected by the closure.

“This was not expected. Senior management from the plant advised us only weeks ago that 2017 was going to be another good year,” said Scott McIlmoyle, president of Unifor Local 112.

Northstar has a long and rich history in Canadian aerospace manufacturing, providing good, decent-paying jobs, McIlmoyle said.

“We are very disappointed in management’s decision to close this facility, and continue to meet with the company to meet the needs of our members and get them the best deal,” McIlmoyle said.

Smith told employees they will receive a severance package in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. He also said they will be supportive of job- search efforts and provide career counselling and assistance.

But that does little to help Davies, who called the closure “an eye-opening experience.

“The last thing I wanted to do was go out and look for a job.”

He said one employee, who is 57, has been with the company for 39 years and was one of the people who helped to develop the Canadarm.

The company has locations in Windsor, Chicago, Phoenix and its corporate headquarters is in Illinois. Davies said there are some jobs available in Windsor, but many of the employees are entrenched in their current locations, with families and ties to the area. He said a handful of people have secured employment and left the company since they found out about the pending closure.

Non-unionized employees include a management team of manufacturing engineers, said Davies.

Davies said the company told employees there would be no layoffs until at least June.