Abbotsford has transformed into a front line for labour disputes this week, with two separate significant strike actions underway.
Unifor Local 114 announced that 280 members walked off the job at Cascade Aerospace on Wednesday (July 9) at noon after that company failed to reach an agreement with the union.
Unifor represents workers at the Abbotsford facility (located at 1337 Townline Rd.) including aircraft maintenance engineers, interior technicians, painters, stores and maintenance staff, planning clerks, sheet metal mechanics, and others.
Workers at Cascade perform maintenance, repair and overhaul and work on a wide range of military and civilian aircraft. This includes maintenance for the Royal Canadian Air 鈥疐orce's C鈥�130 Hercules fleet 鈥� aircraft that are used for Canada's defence, humanitarian, and disaster鈥搑esponse missions.
Unifor Local 114 members previously voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action on June 2 and are on strike for wage improvements that would bring compensation at Cascade Aerospace in line with comparable jobs across the aerospace sector.
"The jobs our members do are among the most advanced industrial jobs in the country," stated Gavin鈥疢cGarrigle, Unifor western regional director. "Cascade Aerospace must recognize how important our members are to their business and pay industry鈥搒tandard wages. Supporting good aerospace jobs in Abbotsford helps support families, our community and strengthens the entire regional economy."
The union stated that this action followed weeks of negotiations between the union and the company. Both parties negotiated until the deadline, but the union said that Cascade Aerospace failed to table an offer to the union's bargaining team that would satisfy the union's request for compensation in line with industry standards and the realities of increased living costs.
Meanwhile, Rogers Communications continues to refuse to return to the bargaining table with striking workers in Abbotsford, who have been off the job since June 19.
The United Steelworkers Union Local 1944, who represent unionized Rogers employees in Abbotsford, stated that the company is choosing to bring in managers from Alberta and other parts of British Columbia to do the work of unionized employees.
鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly disappointed that Rogers would rather exploit a potential loophole in Canada鈥檚 new federal anti-scab legislation rather than negotiate in good faith,鈥� stated Michael Phillips, USW Local 1944 president. 鈥淭he law was designed to protect workers鈥� right to strike and not to be undermined by companies bringing in managers from other regions.鈥�
The union added that despite repeated calls to resume bargaining and resolve the dispute fairly, Rogers has shown no interest in engaging constructively. They believe that the company is escalating tensions by using out-of-province management staff as replacement workers.
Striking local Rogers workers welcomed interim leader of the New Democratic Party Don Davies to the picket line from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday to stand in solidarity at 31450 Marshall Rd.
The USW is calling on Rogers to immediately return to the bargaining table and stop using what they refer to as "underhanded tactics" to weaken the strike.
Continue visiting for ongoing coverage of both strikes.