Unifor launches strike action at Bombardier and De Havilland’s Downsview facility
Posted July 27, 2021 7:48 am.
Last Updated July 27, 2021 1:44 pm.
TORONTO – Unifor says it has launched a strike at the Downsview facility in north Toronto as negotiations continue separately with De Havilland and Bombardier Inc.
The union says workers from Local 673 and Local 112 walked off the job as threatened just after 10 a.m. Tuesday, two days after talks resumed following a three-week cooling-off period.
About 1,500 unionized Bombardier workers and 700 De Havilland employees at the plant manufacture Bombardier’s Global business aircraft and, until recently, the Dash 8 turboprops for De Havilland Canada.
Pensions, use of contractors and erosion of bargaining unit work are key issues at Bombardier while the future of the Dash 8 program is the focus of talks with De Havilland.
Unifor national president Jerry Dias says the union will remain at the bargaining table with both companies while the strike action is ongoing.
A Bombardier spokesman says the company is focused on seeing the process through to an agreement.
