Airbus staff members at the plane manufacturer’s facility in Mirabel, Quebec, near Montreal, have rejected a third contract offer from their employer.
According to The Canadian Press, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) confirmed on April 21, 2024, that almost 70% of its members at the facility rejected the new terms.
The IAMAW represents around 1,300 staff members at the Airbus factory in Mirabel and “believed” the new proposal “met the expectations” of its members.
Éric Rancourt, the union’s spokesperson during the negotiations, admitted that the result showed that this was “not the case”.
“We will quickly communicate with the employer to discuss the next steps,” Rancourt said.
According to The Canadian Press, the deal was rejected over working hours and pay.
Included in the rejected third proposal was a five-year contract that would see salaries rise by 8% in the first year and then annual increases of 3% or 4% plus other changes to benefits surrounding pensions and holiday.
“We have put everything on the table in terms of improving salary conditions, increasing benefits and pensions, and adding a premium to foster knowledge-sharing among our employees. This is a young aircraft program, and additional efforts need to be done in order to ensure its long-term success,” Patrick Bertin, Head of Human Resources at Airbus Canada, told The Canadian Press.