Collective negotiations | The specter of lockout dissipates at Airbus in Mirabel

The scenario of a lockout has dissipated at Airbus in Mirabel. Its 1,300 employees who assemble the A220 accept a new employment contract, but their union warns the aircraft manufacturer that it has work to do to restore “a good working climate”.

Lasting five years, the collective agreement provides for salary increases totaling 23%. Two options were available to members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW): accept the conciliator’s recommendations or reject them and find themselves locked out.

On Wednesday, they opted for the former at 77.14%. Nearly 81% of affected employees expressed their views in the vote.

“Despite the favorable result, this negotiation generated a lot of frustration,” said union spokesperson Éric Rancourt. There will be scars left and the employer will have things to repair in the coming months to restore a good working climate. »

Airbus sees things differently. In a press release, the European aircraft manufacturer believes that the employment contract allows it “to position itself at the top of the employers of choice in the Quebec aerospace industry”.

This was a fourth vote for IAMAW members. On April 21, despite a recommendation from their union, the employees – toolmakers, welders and other technicians – rejected an agreement in principle by 68%. The agreement provided for salary increases of 22% spread over five years. The employer withdrew from the negotiating table, prompting the IAMAW to request conciliation.

Airbus’ two previous offers were almost unanimously rejected by employees, at the recommendation of union negotiators.

Still in deficit, the A220 must be able to produce 14 aircraft monthly in Mirabel and Mobile (Alabama) in 2026 to get out of the red, according to Airbus. The current production rate must therefore double within two years to achieve this objective.

Any delay in the profitability schedule risks having consequences for Quebec taxpayers, who hold 25% of this program developed by Bombardier after having injected 1.7 billion since 2015. By agreeing to remit 380 million in 2022, Quebec had been able to push back to 2030 the moment when Airbus can buy back its stake in the A220.

The longer profits wait, the more money the Quebec state will leave on the table.

The collective agreement salary increases will be 8%, 3% and 4% for the following three years. They will apply retroactively to December 2.