THUNDER BAY – The six week old strike at Bombardier is continuing. Workers are taking their message to Thunder Bay City Hall later today to rally the workers. “These workers have stood strong against company demands for across-the-board concessions that would hurt past, present and future workers at the plant,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.
Dias will speak aat the rally, taking place the day before a last offer vote ordered by the Ministry of Labour after an application from Bombardier. The company is allowed to make one such application during each round of bargaining.
“The serious concerns of Bombardier Transportation about Unifor not providing its union members and the public with truthful information were confirmed today,” stated Stephanie Ash, Bombardier Transportation spokesperson.
The company says, in a new release, “In a document issued today by Unifor National representatives from Toronto, false information about the details of the contract offer were once again being spread. This is a blatant attempt by Unifor leaders to misguide workers and their families in Thunder Bay about the contract proposal. Today’s communication from Unifor National falsely claims that Bombardier Transportation is ‘denying the current defined benefit pension plan and retiree benefits to all workers hired after December 31, 2010. That’s almost 500 workers at the 900-worker plant’, this statement from Unifor National is 100% untrue, Ash contends.
Bombardier Transportation presented a last contract offer to Unifor in writing and distributed copies to every Unifor employee that clearly proves that all current workers hired up to May 31, 2014 will indeed keep their current defined benefit pension plan under the proposed offer. All 900 workers will maintain their defined pension plans.
Bombardier Transportation calls on Unifor National and Unifor Local 1075 to tell the truth and allow their members the right to vote on the contract proposal based on accurate information. Bombardier Transportation believes that its 900 employees deserve transparency and fairness from the Union that represents them. ”
Also speaking will be Bob Orr, Assistant to the President, and Unifor Local 1075 President Dominic Pasqualino.
The strike at the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay, which makes subway and streetcars for the Toronto Transit Commission and trains for the GO commuter service, began July 14.
