Initiates A Lockout Of Unionized Employees

Avcorp Industries has initiated a lockout of unionized employees at its Delta, British Columbia facility following a lockout notice being provided on September 16, 2019.

The collective agreement between the Company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (Lodge 250) (the "Union") expired on March 31, 2019 and the Company has been bargaining in good faith since that time. The prolonged negotiations, the Union's strike mandate and labor disruptions precipitated the Company's actions. The lockout affects approximately 270 workers in Delta, British Columbia.

The Company's operations will be substantially reduced during the lockout and is operating on a reduced basis at the present time. The Company says it is continuing to bargain in good faith.

According to the IAM, Avcorp's first offer was rejected by the worker by a margin of 100% - a rarity these days. They then conducted a strike vote, with the employees voting 100% in favor of a strike.

The parties went to three days of mediation, but there was no resolution, which prompted the company to apply for a Government-Supervised Final Offer Vote. It was conducted by the BC Labor Board over three days in July and August. The members rejected it by a 98% margin.

"The two main issues are contracting out and seniority retention," said IAM District 250 Business Representative Paul Pelletreau, who also worked at Avcorp for many years. "Aerospace is cyclical work, and the workers want to know that if they are laid off, they maintain their seniority," he said. "A laid-off worker can have worked for 5 years, be laid off and then return and have to apply as if they had never worked there – it's just wrong," he concluded.

Avcorp Industries has, over the years, purchased facilities in Burlington, ON and Gardena, CA. The union is not asking for substantive changes in the contracting-out language, but simply to account for the two newer facilities. Members want to be assured that their jobs are protected, when layoffs occur to have recall rights which provide them with some dignity. The IAM is committed to keeping good aerospace jobs in Canada.

In many cases, when IAM members at Avcorp are laid-off, their recall rights expire and they must start again as new employees, losing all wage levels and accrued benefits. The last recall forced workers to take a pay cut of almost $4 per hour. A layoff period can last anywhere from two to four years. Similar work of this high-skilled trade is unavailable in the Delta area.

(Source: Avcorp and UAM news releases)

FMI: www.iamaw.ca
www.avcorp.com