Rolls-Royce fired union president during lockout

A labor dispute at aerospace company Rolls-Royce Canada recently escalated after the union president was fired, accusing management of trying to spin a member of management.

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The fired employee is Frederic LaBelle, president of the Rolls-Royce Canada Workers Union since 2016.

“Following a several-week investigation by an external firm at our request, we have concluded that the relationship of trust between Rolls-Royce Canada and Mr. Labelle has definitively and irretrievably broken down,” the company’s management said in a statement sent to Log Through a public relations firm.

Geolocation device

According to a source, Rolls-Royce discovered an AirTag, an Apple geolocation device, affixed to the car of one of its leaders.

Rolls-Royce confirmed the device was linked to an Apple account belonging to Frédéric Labelle, our source added.

A victim of a setup?

Joined by News magazineMr. Labelle has denied any wrongdoing.

“We’re in the middle of a conflict, and all the low blows go through it, he said. It’s an arrangement. I have nothing to blame myself for.”

The employee challenges his dismissal. Although events had changed, he still sat at the bargaining table. A meeting between the two parties was held yesterday in the presence of the mediator.

He has the support of the PQ

To add to the unusual nature of the case, Frédéric LaBelle is the Parti Québécois (PQ) candidate in the riding of Blainville for the next election.

“He is still a candidate, confirmed Francois Leroux, director of communications for the PQ. His dismissal is part of the labor dispute. On our side, we will continue to see how it develops. It does not affect his candidacy as we speak.

Political construction questions Rolls-Royce’s version of facts.

“Firing an employee who was the union president during a lockout is still very unique. It’s very rare,” Mr. Leroux commented.

About 530 workers at Rolls-Royce in the Montreal borough of Lachine have been locked out since March 15.

Violent labor dispute

The conflict is particularly intense. In April, the owner admitted to using scabs, which is illegal.

Last month, 150 union members pleaded not guilty to contempt of court charges for protesting in parks near the residences of some company executives.

According to the union affiliated with CSN, the employer specifically wants a two-year wage freeze.