Aircraft

Bombardier Aerospace has reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the union representing nearly 3,000 workers at its Toronto facility.

The CBA between Bombardier and two local units of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) comes up for renewal every two years. Often the process attracts little media attention but a CAW-issued news release early this week focused more attention on the status of the negotiations.

Referring to discussions with Bombardier management, CAW president Ken Lewenza says: "This was a tough round of negotiations, but we were able to reach a good collective agreement that will both make improvements and protect our members' historic gains."

CAE Local 112 Bombardier plant chairperson Merv Gray adds: "We were under a lot of pressure to make concessions, but were able to resist these demands, recognizing that they would have ultimately been damaging to the past and current workers. We're happy with the agreement we negotiated on behalf of our members, especially in light of the current economic challenges."

Bombardier in early April announced it is cutting another 3,000 workers from its aerospace division in North America, Mexico and Northern Ireland by the end of this year.

These reductions are in addition to 1,360 job losses disclosed during February in relation to adjusted production rates of its business jets.

Bombardier is confirming that a tentative CBA has been reached with the CAW.

"As the agreement is tentative we are unable to comment on the details until after it is ratified by the union membership," says the Canadian airframer.

A ratification meeting will be held on 28 June in the morning and the results will be released later that day.