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Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Airbus Canada) announced that it has reached a labour agreement with the 1,300 unionized employees at its Mirabel site, in Quebec.
After several months of negotiations, the employees who assemble the A220 aircraft, and who are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), ratified the tentative agreement by around 77 per cent, including the adjustments recommended by the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour.
The increased flexibility achieved through this agreement will facilitate a better balance between shifts and the transfer of knowledge between more experienced employees and those who have joined the company recently.
This condition is essential as the A220 production rate is ramping up. It will enable increased efficiency in order to produce a higher number of A220s and reach the break-even point for the aircraft program in 2026.
The new five-year collective agreement includes :
• wage increases of 23 per cent (8 per cent, three per cent and four per cent in subsequent years) as well as a retroactive part;
• a better access to group insurance, with extended coverage;
• improved vacation policy and pension plan;
• a significant increase in evening premiums and the addition of a new exceptional evening and night premium to foster knowledge transfer.
“With this new agreement, Airbus Canada and its Mirabel employees are putting in place the winning conditions to ensure the long-term success of the A220, whose production rate is set to almost double over the next two years. We are delighted to have ratified this new agreement, so that we can continue working with our employees, whose expertise and commitment make it possible to manufacture one of the world’s best aircraft, here in Quebec,” said Benoît Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada.
The Mirabel-based workers who assemble the A220, the latest single-aisle aircraft in its category, are essential to the aircraft’s success. The agreement reflects the mutual commitment of both parties to the long-term success of the A220, the Mirabel site and Airbus’ growing presence in Quebec.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Airbus.
