Thunder Bay Bombardier strike could spell implications for Waterloo Region
Posted Jul 16, 2014 04:49:06 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A strike in Thunder Bay could have implications right here in Waterloo Region.
Hundreds of workers have gone on strike at a Bombardier plant that will make the region’s light rail train cars.
The work stoppage began after the two sides failed to reach an agreement before the 2 p.m. deadline.
Darshpreet Batti, the Director of the Rapid Transit Project in Waterloo Region, says iON developers will be following the strike closely: “Definitely, as a client, our job is to keep in touch with Bombardier and make sure that we’re informed as soon as Bombardier has some sort of a resolution with their union, so that we can get that comfort that our overall schedule will not be impacted.”
Batti says right now, they don’t see any flags that need to be raised, based on the work stoppage.
“The vehicles won’t be produced until Quarter Two or Quarter Three of next year,” says Batti, “so we have a lot of time for design and other issues to be resolved until production starts.”
Unifor, which represents the 900 plant workers, says Bombardier wants to make changes to pensions and benefits that are unacceptable to the employees.
