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Labour Reporter
Canadian
www.labour-reporter.com
July 28, 2014
Bombardier staff
walk off the job
Union predicts strike will go
on for a 'really long time'
By SaBrina nanji
a Battle over pensions could translate into a prolonged strike
at Bombardier's facility in Thunder Bay, Ont., something the union
warns could lead to in-demand workers packing up and heading West in
search of new jobs if the matter isn't settled quickly.
In mid-July, about 900 Unifor workers at the transportation giant's
factory in northern Ontario walked off the job after negotiators hit a
wall at the bargaining table.
Of concern for the union is that the contract currently on the table
lacks bones. Not only have benefits been slashed, but the pension plan
has taken a hit, according to Dominic Pasqualino, president of Unifor's
local 1075 chapter. In particular, Bombardier wants to move new-hires
to a defined contribution (DC) plan, while keeping current employees
on a defined benefit (DB) pension.
"We want everyone to have the same pension, it's incorrect for them
PIPELINE
ledcor pipeline
province-wide, alberta
(460 construction workers) and the Construction Workers Union Local
63, affiliated with the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC)
renewal agreement: Effective
June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2016.
Signed April 4, 2014.
Wage adjustments:
Effective Jan. 1, 2015: 5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2016: 5%
Calculated by CLR.
paid holidays: 11 days.
Ontario boosts minimum wage
Following a recent bump for
Ontario's minimum wage earners,
the province is now looking to tie
future raises to the
consumer price index
ArbitrAtiOn
AwArds
see Collective agreements > pg. 3
City of Windsor discovers additional offenses after firing employee pg. 6
Cornerstone Industrial - Alberta pg. 3 North American Construction
- Northwest Territories pg. 3 Colispro - Quebec pg. 4 J.D. Irving Ltd.
- New Brunswick pg. 4 Coopérative des Travailleurs CHNC - Quebec
pg. 5 Thornes, a division of Source Atlantic - New Brunswick pg. 5
Manitoba midwife
feels labour pains
Cara MCDonalD, a midwife
in Manitoba, received back pay
from her employer after an arbi-
trator ruled she was unjustifiably
put on unpaid leave whilst under-
going an audit of her practice.
Employed at the Winnipeg
Regional Health Authority since
2001, McDonald was put on paid
leave of absence after concerns
were raised about her practice.
Management informed Mc-
Donald she could return to work
pending the audit's results —
COlleCtive
Agreements
ColleCtive
Agreements
ArbitrAtion
AwArds
Photo:
Christinne
Muschi
(Reuters)
Workers at transportation giant Bombardier walked off the job in
Thunder Bay, Ont., after negotiations came to a standstill. The union
cites cuts to benefits and pensions as points of contention.
Negotiate with confidence.
Mock sessions. Best practices. Program leaders with real-world experience.
Choose Queen's IRC and thrive in your next negotiation session.
i r c . q u e e n s u . c a
see Arbitration > pg. 6
see Management > pg. 7
pg. 2