Aerospace

ABBOSTFORD, B.C.—At noon Pacific time today, approximately 280 highly skilled members of Unifor Local 114 walked off the job at Cascade Aerospace, initiating strike action after the company failed to reach an agreement with the union. 

On Friday May 9, the U.S. Industry and Security Bureau issued a draft notice announcing a new national security investigation into imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines, and related parts under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. This move signals a potential shift toward imposing tariffs or other trade barriers on Canadian-made aerospace products—a deeply concerning development for Canada’s aerospace workers.

The sudden and unprovoked Trump initiated trade war between the United States and Canada as well as the inflammatory comments made about Canada’s sovereignty have shocked Canadian aerospace workers.

Montreal– Unifor Quebec, which represents thousands of workers in the aerospace sector, applauds the federal government’s announcement that it will award a major contract to CAE for the training of CF-35A pilots. Valued at $5 billion over 37 years, this contract will create some 1,100 direct jobs, and promises to generate significant economic benefits for Quebec and the country as a whole.

MONTREAL- Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union, today introduced the union’s vision for the future of the aerospace sector.  

Presented by Unifor National President Lana Payne and Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier the policy initiative aims to raise awareness of the union's priorities for action in industrial and workforce development at a time when the sector is struggling to regain momentum since the end of the pandemic.

MONTREAL- Unifor invites media to attend the release of the union’s new aerospace policy. The policy presents Unifor's vision for the aerospace sector and proposes a number of industrial policy recommendations to address current and future challenges identified in the industry.

This event will be attended by Lana Payne, Unifor National President, and Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director, who will discuss the impacts and challenges of this new strategic direction.

Unifor has brought together experts, union leaders and rank and file union members to put together a worker-led plan for Canada's aerospace industry. Read the plan at https://aerounifor.ca/en/

MISSISSAUGA—Unifor members at Bombardier ratified a new three-year collective agreement today bringing an end to an 18-day strike at the company’s aircraft manufacturing facilities in Mississauga and Waterloo. 

Unifor members at Bombardier voted to reject a tentative agreement today.

As a result, strike action will continue at the company’s Aircraft Assembly Centre at Pearson International Airport and pre-flight operations facility at Waterloo Regional Airport.

During yesterday’s negotiations with Bombardier, the company presented a final offer to the union. The bargaining committees reviewed the proposal, deemed it insufficient and ultimately rejected the final offer. 

As a result, the strike at the Bombardier facility will continue.

Both parties remain apart on key union priorities. However, specific details of the negotiations will not be made public to protect the integrity of the bargaining process.