By a vote of 92 percent in favor, members of Montreal IAM Local 712 have accepted their next collective bargaining agreement with Bombardier Aerospace.
“We have made the choice of making certain compromises for advancing the aerospace industry and to secure the defined pension plan,” said IAM Quebec Coordinator David Chartrand. “We hope in return our employer is conscientious.”
The Bombardier workers will not see a raise in the first year of their contract but will benefit from a 6 percent wage increase over the term of the four-year agreement. The members will have deductions for their retirement plan increased but were successful in maintaining a defined benefit retirement plan.
“We have worked hard with our employer to conserve certain gains,” said IAM Local 712 President Yvon Paiement. “Our retirement plan remains one of the best and our collective insurance is very competitive. We are proud of what we have accomplished given today’s context. It’s an agreement which leaves nobody on the outside.”
The negotiating committee also paid special attention to temporary workers, who will see improved working conditions and benefits.
“We have improved and made insurance coverage accessible while increasing stability for temporary workers,” said Local 712 Grievance Committee President Christian Bertrand. “It is our duty, with each and every negotiation to increase working conditions of all workers regardless of their work status. We must reduce inequalities.”
IAM Local 712 represents more than 4,700 workers at Bombardier, which builds commercial aircraft used by carriers around the world.
