To the editor:
The Thunder Bay and District Labour Council, an organization representing more than 15,000 organized workers in Thunder Bay and area, is deeply concern about the current UNIFOR local 1075 strike against Bombardier Thunder Bay Operations.
According to our sources, the company hasn’t bargained in good faith; in fact, they did not even show up at the last scheduled negotiation meeting. In preparation to forcing their workers into a strike situation, they set up a fence around the plant before the above mentioned negotiation meeting.
To the labour community, this is a clear indicator the company does not have serious intentions to resolve the labour impasse and reach a fair agreement with the union.
The demands for concessions, no monetary improvements, and the unacceptable introduction of a two tier retirement proposal, in the current transportation market of the economy are ludicrous and hurtful to the local and provincial economy.
There is It is no doubting of the importance of the Bombardier operations for our local economy, by forcing workers into a strike situation, the company is disregarding the needs of hundreds upon hundreds of workers that depend on their employment to provide for their families. The spin-off effect of the loss of purchasing power of the strike workers will have an impact in the local business; there is no doubt about it.
Clearly is in the best interest not only for the workers at the Bombardier plant, but for the entire local economy, is that the Corporation cease their ideological approach of demanding union concessions, sit down at the table and work towards reaching a fair and mutually acceptable agreement.
Carlos Santander-Maturana,
President,
Thunder Bay and District Labour Council
