Hundreds of striking Bombardier workers are going back to work, Monday. 85 per cent of the general membership felt the company’s latest offer was the better deal, and voted in favour of the contract, Friday.
Unifor Local 1075 spokesperson Dominic Pasqualino says significant gains were made in regards to major stumbling blocks, company pension and benefits, but the new three-year contract still has some concessions. “The people working at the plant, there is no change for their retirement pay – that will be the same.
There is a qualification, however, before you can get retirement benefits – you have to now work 10 years at the plant,” he says. “The new hires would also pay towards defined benefit plan, 25 cents [of their hourly wage], but the good thing is that they do have a defined benefit plan and they get the same benefits as everyone else.” Pasqualino adds it could take up to two weeks for workers to be recalled.
CJ Hanlon, a finisher at the local plant, says the bargaining committee was able to fight majority of concessions, but additional costs in the contract are not necessarily good for the membership. “The way we had it prior to this was it was covered 100 per cent, and we had the $10 deductible, but now we have the $4 co-pay,” Hanlon says. “Our union didn’t sell anybody out. Everybody coming in maintains the same benefits and it’s not sending a message that one person is better than another because of years of service.” Hanlon adds he’s happy he’ll have benefits when he retires. (File photo)
