Striking Bombardier workers rally Monday

TORONTO, Aug. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Members of Unifor Local 1075, on strike at Bombardier for six weeks in the face of company demands for deep concessions, will hold a rally outside Thunder Bay City Hall on Monday.

"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 that the 11am 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.

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.

• What: Rally for striking Bombardier workers
• Where: Thunder Bay City Hall, 111 Syndicate Ave S, Thunder Bay, ON
• When: Monday, August 25, 11am
• Who: Speakers include Unifor National President Jerry Dias, Assistant to the President Bob Orr and Unifor Local 1075 President Dominic Pasqualino

"Bombardier is a very profitable company with $37 billion on the order books. But all Bombardier, has done during these contract talks is try to take money out of the pockets of the workers, and put it into the pockets of its shareholders," Dias said.

The offer to be voted on Tuesday contains cuts to benefits for current workers and retirees, while offering a wage increase of less than one per cent over three years and 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.

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

SOURCE: Unifor