THUNDER BAY -- The fourth day of talks between Bombardier and the union representing its 900 striking workers will be the last for now.
Talks between Unifor Local 1075, which represents about 900 Bombardier employees now on strike from the Montreal Street plant, resumed negotiations with the company Tuesday.
Both sides were under a media blackout and were not giving public statements amid those talks.
The media silence was broken Friday evening when Bob Orr, assistant to the president of Unifor, confirmed that both sides mutually agreed to take a break.
There is no word on when talks will resume.
In his statement to media, Orr said he appreciated the patience and resolve of the striking union members.
The break from negotiations continues a tense labour dispute that began July 14.
The primary point of contention during the labour dispute has been the concessions the company is seeking to early retirement benefits for recent hires and a change to the pension structure of future workers.
In late August, union members had an opportunity to vote on what Bombardier called its final offer. About 81 per cent of the Local 1075 members gave that offer the thumbs down amid a vote that was supervised by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour.
Had members accepted it, the offer would have seen employees hired after Dec. 31, 2010 receive a lump sum payout of $350 in lieu of any pre-65 early retirement benefits.
New hires would be ineligible for early retirement benefits.
Future hires would also have been enrolled in a defined contribution pension plan, while all current workers would remain on their defined benefit plan.
