Striking Bombardier workers reach tentative deal

Production at Thunder Bay plant responsible for new TTC streetcars stalled since July 14

A tentative agreement has been reached in an eightweek strike at a Bombardier rail plant that builds subways, trains and streetcars for the Toronto Transit Commission, GO and others.

The agreement covering some 900 workers at the Thunder Bay plant will be presented for ratification on Friday, Sept. 12 at 8:30 a.m., the union said in a statement Thursday.

“These workers have stood up for good jobs in their community. Our fight against the employer’s concessions has shown the resolve of the membership to fight for fairness,” local president Dominic Pasqualino said.

Bombardier Transportation said in a release that it “hopes to see our valued employees return to work as quickly as possible,” adding, “We believe this new agreement continues to provide for well paid jobs in Thunder Bay and meets the needs of the company moving forward.”

Details of the new collective agreement were not being disclosed before the ratification vote.

The main issues in the dispute had been the company’s demand for cuts in benefits to new hires. Bombardier has said it needs the cuts to remain competitive.

The labour disruption came at a critical time for the TTC as it prepared to launch its new fleet of streetcars, two of which went into service on the Spadina line on Aug. 31.

The TTC declined to comment on the tentative deal Thursday.

The Bombardier plant also has orders for light rapid transit vehicles for Metrolinx and Kitchener-Waterloo, and the Toronto Rocket, Toronto’s next generation of subway cars, as well as the green and white bi-level cars for the GO commuter train service. The strike began July 14. Last month, the workers rejected a “last offer” from the company by 80 per cent in a vote ordered by the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing more than 305,000 workers.