Owner’s Offer | About 1,800 Quebec workers told Bombardier no

The stalemate between Bombardier and its 1,800 Quebec workers continues, especially as the Challenger is responsible for assembling private jets, which almost unanimously (99.6%) reject the aircraft manufacturers’ offer, leading to a halt if nothing moves.

Julian Arsenal
Press

Workers representing the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), who met at the Palais des Congress in Montreal on Sunday, gave themselves a strike order. The proposal received 98.8% support. According to the Union Party, about 1,300 people attended the meeting.

“Workers, they tell us a lot about the rising cost of living, business agent Eric Ramcourt said in an interview. We stay away from what members want and what the employer is willing to provide.”

Bombardier is offering a three-year contract with a 2.5% pay rise for the first year and a 2% increase for the next two years. Inflation in Canada was 6.7% in March – the highest since 1991.

Mr Rancourt testified that the principled side of the proposal fits, in particular, pension plans, insurance, as well as everything that affects the holidays. We do not agree on salaries. He did not want to say what his members were asking for in the pay rise.

The command we have is zero backlash. When you look at inflation, that is not the opinion you get. Monetally it is clearly not enough.

Business Agent Eric Ramcourt

Before calling for a strike, IAMAW will have to vote again for its members. The union wants to resume talks “quickly”, Ramcourt said. In an email statement, the aircraft manufacturer said it was disappointed with the rejection of the “fair” offer.

“We will return to the negotiating table in good faith soon to reach an agreement,” company spokeswoman Anna Christopher wrote. We are confident that we will reach an agreement while continuing our daily activities. ⁇

This led to the rejection of IAMAW union members, with the Bombardier’s top five executives raising their total compensation last year to nearly $ 21 million. They shared a cash bonus of 7.2 million.

Months of negotiations

The contract of 1,800 employees expired last December. Negotiations began a few months earlier. Participating workers assembled Challengers in Doorwall and also work in company facilities in the Montreal Borough of Saint-Laurent, where components such as the Global 7500 cockpit are manufactured.

Intense tension between the two parties

On March 23, IAMAW launched a riot by distributing a bulletin to its members, accusing them of “virtually all” rejecting their wage demands, along with the “significant setbacks” demand of “many millions”.

Called to respond next to the public address, Eric Martel, president and CEO of Bombardier, considered the departure premature and described the union allegations as “rumors”.

This is the second complex discussion between the company and its employees. Last July, 1,200 workers at the Toronto Downsview plant, represented by Uniforms, went on strike for several days. Global 7500 – Bombardier’s flagship – production suspended.