(Montreal) Without a date for resumption of negotiations 48 hours after the rejection of a third proposal for an agreement in principle, the Airbus Canada workers’ union in Mirabel requested the services of a conciliator on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the members of the local section concerned of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), affiliated with the FTQ, rejected in a proportion of 68% the agreement in principle which had been reached between the parties, April 12. Two other employer offers had previously been rejected.
“It is not normal to wait more than 48 hours after a vote before obtaining negotiation dates. This is why we called on the mediation service of the General Directorate of Labor Relations. No one has any advantage in letting the situation drag on and leading to a conflict,” indicates Éric Rancourt, the spokesperson at the negotiating table, in a message sent to union members.
The union contacted the Quebec Ministry of Labor to request the services of a mediator-conciliator who “will act as a neutral and impartial third party in order to promote the resumption of discussions between the parties with the objective of achieving to an agreement,” we can read in the same email.
Several points are in dispute between Airbus and the members of the union: working hours, job security, outsourcing, salaries and seniority, Mr. Rancourt reported.
Airbus Canada, for its part, is concerned about the A220 aircraft program, built in Mirabel, which has not yet been profitable.
With information from Lia Lévesque, The Canadian Press