Beechnut
Ndugu's Foster Dad
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Bombardier workers on strike in Montreal
Last Updated Mon, 15 Apr 2002 9:54:36
MONTREAL - About 7,400 of Bombardier's Montreal aerospace workers began a full-blown strike against the transportation giant Monday, shutting down production at three of the company's plants.
No talks scheduled
The strike followed a 91.5 per cent vote on Saturday to walk off the job at the three Montreal-area plants.
The workers rejected the company's last contract offer by a margin of 3-to-2. That offer would have given employees a wage increase of 3.25 per cent in each year of a four-year contract, as well as a signing bonus of $1,000.
The union had been seeking a 5 per cent increase in each year of a three-year contract, as well as a lowering of the retirement age from 60 to 58.
The decision to begin an indefinite strike followed two one-day walkouts – the most recent last Thursday – as workers pressed contract demands.
Bombardier workers make an average of $21.50 an hour. Their union says workers at other plane makers like Boeing make more.
The strike stops production of Bombardier's popular line of Canadair regional jets, and business jets like the Challenger.
Bombardier shares opened Monday morning at $14.10, down 60 cents from Friday's close. The stock has traded as low as $9.19 in the weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. It was trading above $24 less than a year ago.
Last Updated Mon, 15 Apr 2002 9:54:36
MONTREAL - About 7,400 of Bombardier's Montreal aerospace workers began a full-blown strike against the transportation giant Monday, shutting down production at three of the company's plants.
No talks scheduled
The strike followed a 91.5 per cent vote on Saturday to walk off the job at the three Montreal-area plants.
The workers rejected the company's last contract offer by a margin of 3-to-2. That offer would have given employees a wage increase of 3.25 per cent in each year of a four-year contract, as well as a signing bonus of $1,000.
The union had been seeking a 5 per cent increase in each year of a three-year contract, as well as a lowering of the retirement age from 60 to 58.
The decision to begin an indefinite strike followed two one-day walkouts – the most recent last Thursday – as workers pressed contract demands.
Bombardier workers make an average of $21.50 an hour. Their union says workers at other plane makers like Boeing make more.
The strike stops production of Bombardier's popular line of Canadair regional jets, and business jets like the Challenger.
Bombardier shares opened Monday morning at $14.10, down 60 cents from Friday's close. The stock has traded as low as $9.19 in the weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. It was trading above $24 less than a year ago.
