MMA Railway lays off nearly one-third of Quebec workforce in wake of Lac-Megantic

The railway involved in the fatal Quebec derailment is said to have laid off five more employees.

A union says the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway has now cut nearly one-third of its Quebec workforce since one of its trains derailed in downtown Lac-Megantic and killed an estimated 47 people.

It says the layoffs today of five Farnham-based MMA workers means 24 of the railway’s 75 employees in the province have lost their jobs since the July 6 tragedy.

The U.S.-based company let go 19 Quebec workers earlier this month — citing the disaster’s impact on the business.

The future of the railway is in doubt as it faces imposing financial hurdles — including several lawsuits and mounting environmental cleanup costs.

The United Steelworkers says the five employees were told about the cuts this morning by telephone.