Canadian workers' union Unifor has initiated a strike involving 1,350 members at Bombardier's facilities after failing to secure an agreement by the deadline. Negotiations continued over the weekend and are set to resume early Monday. This follows a similar strike in 2021 that resulted in increased wages and pension benefits.

Unifor said on Sunday that 1,350 of its members are on strike at jet-maker Bombardier's facilities after the two sides were unable reach a tentative agreement before the Saturday deadline. The union's bargaining committee members are working towards an agreement and both parties remain committed to continuing the bargaining process, Unifor said in a statement.

"Bombardier is continuing to negotiate with all parties," company spokesman Mark Masluch said in an emailed statement to Reuters, adding that the goal remains to "swiftly reach a mutually beneficial agreement". Negotiations continued throughout Saturday night, Unifor said, with both parties agreeing to resume discussions early Monday morning.

Unifor, a general trade union, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the details of the strike while Bombardier declined to comment on the same. This follows a similar strike by Unifor in July 2021 at Bombardier's Toronto business jet assembly plant, which lasted a week before a three-year collective agreement was ratified, including wage increases and higher monthly pension benefits.

Unifor says 1,350 workers are on strike as of today after the union failed to reach an agreement with Bombardier last night. A Bombardier plant is seen in Montreal on Friday, June 5, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul ChiassonOTTAWA - Bombardier aircraft assembly workers are on strike as of today after their union failed to reach an agreement with the company by the Saturday evening strike deadline. Unifor issued a release today saying 1,350 workers are on strike. Unifor says negotiations with the employer continued through the night and late into the morning.

Bargaining is expected to resume early Monday morning. The union says both parties are committed to continuing the negotiation process. Mark Masluch, a spokesman for Bombardier, says the collective goal is to "swiftly reach a mutually beneficial agreement." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2024.