Collective agreement | Airbus Canada and its 1,300 union members still at an impasse

The 1,300 Airbus Canada union members who assemble the A220 in Mirabel are planning pressure tactics this Monday, after having rejected, almost unanimously (99.9%), a second employer offer aimed at renewing their collective agreement.

Some 80% of union members represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) came on Sunday to express their dissatisfaction with the content of the European aircraft manufacturer’s proposals.

“Since the meeting of March 17, we have evolved the employer’s proposal on certain points, but there is catching up to be done which is still not included in the second offer and the members have been clear on this subject Today [dimanche] », indicated the union spokesperson and Quebec representative of the IAMAW, Éric Rancourt.

Even though the workers have already given themselves a strike mandate, Airbus and union representatives must start negotiating again on Monday. However, production of Bombardier’s old C Series — a program still in deficit — risks being disrupted. The IAMAW affirms that pressure tactics are planned. The union, however, did not want to say what could be put forward.

“The dialogue at the table is open and constructive, but there remains a gap between the union’s demands and the current financial capacity of the A220 which has not yet reached its break-even point,” for its part underlined the multinational European Union, in a statement sent by email.

Talks began last November between the two parties. Salaries, indexation of the retirement plan, working hours, group insurance and outsourcing are among the points still in dispute, according to the union party. Airbus Canada’s initial offer was rejected by 99.6%.

25% owned by the Quebec state, the A220 has just turned the page on a record year in terms of orders, with 142 firm contracts, while being able to increase its number of deliveries by around 30%. (68 devices handed over to customers) last year. The production rate must nevertheless double within two years in Mirabel as well as in Mobile, if the program is to reach the profitability threshold.

Any delay on the schedule risks having consequences for Quebec taxpayers, who have so far injected 1.7 billion into this program developed by Bombardier. By agreeing to remit 380 million in 2022, Quebec was able to postpone until 2030 the moment when Airbus would buy back its stake in the A220. The longer the profits are delayed, the more the amount obtained by the Quebec state risks being reduced.

The other A220 assembly line is in Mobile, Alabama.