Workers at an Airbus assembly plant near Montreal, Quebec, have turned down a contract proposal for the third time. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, representing approximately 1,300 employees at the Mirabel facility, reports that nearly 70 percent of its members voted against the tentative agreement. Union spokesperson Éric Rancourt notes that although negotiators believed they had brokered a deal satisfactory to members, the vote indicates otherwise. This rejection follows a previous instance earlier in the month when workers overwhelmingly opposed a second offer from the company, with almost unanimous support for strike action.
The proposed contract, spanning five years, included an initial wage hike of eight percent in the first year, followed by annual increases of three to four percent. Airbus has emphasized its commitment to reaching a new collective agreement that is equitable for both parties while ensuring the sustained success of the A220 aircraft, assembled at the Mirabel plant.