Unifor says 1,350 of its members are on strike at Bombardier after deal deadline passes

Canadian workers’ union Unifor said on Sunday that 1,350 of its members are on strike at jet-maker Bombardier’s facilities after the two sides were unable reach a tentative agreement before the Saturday deadline.

The union’s bargaining committee members are working toward an agreement, and both parties remain committed to continuing the bargaining process, Unifor said in a statement.

“Bombardier is continuing to negotiate with all parties,” company spokesperson Mark Masluch said in an emailed statement to Reuters, adding that the goal remains to “swiftly reach a mutually beneficial agreement.”

Negotiations continued throughout Saturday night, Unifor said, with both parties agreeing to resume discussions early Monday morning.

Unifor, a general trade union, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the details of the strike, while Bombardier declined to comment on the same.

This follows a similar strike by Unifor in July 2021 at Bombardier’s Toronto business jet assembly plant, which lasted a week before a three-year collective agreement was ratified, including wage increases and higher monthly pension benefits.