Bombardier talks continue ahead of deadline

TORONTO, July 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor, which represents workers at Bombardier in Thunder Bay building commuter trains and streetcars, will be working through the weekend to reach a deal ahead of a strike deadline Monday afternoon.

"We are prepared to meet around the clock to reach a fair collective agreement," said Dominic Pasqualino, president of Unifor Local 1075.

The 1,000 workers at the plant are building the new generation of subway cars and streetcars for the Toronto Transit Commission, as well as GO Transit trains. They have been in a legal strike or lockout position since June 10, and without a contract since May 31.

At issue are company demands for concessions in benefits and pensions. A three-day strike took place at the plant in 2011 in the face of similar demands. The local has set a strike deadline of Monday, July 14 at 2pm.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 305,000 workers, including more than 94,000 in manufacturing. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.

SOURCE: Unifor