Nearly 280 skilled workers at Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford walked off the job Wednesday after the company failed to reach a wage agreement with their union.
Members of Unifor Local 114 began strike action at noon Pacific time, affecting operations at the facility that performs critical maintenance on military and civilian aircraft, including heavy maintenance for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s C-130 Hercules fleet.
The striking workers include Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, interior technicians, painters, stores and maintenance staff, planning clerks, and sheet-metal mechanics. They maintain aircraft used in Canada’s defence, humanitarian, and disaster-response missions.
“Our members maintain the kind of aircraft Canada depends on in times of crisis—from wildfires to humanitarian missions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “All they ask for is to be treated with respect and to be paid what they’re worth. It’s time for Cascade Aerospace to recognize the skill, dedication, and service our members provide is indispensable.”
Union seeks industry-standard compensation
The union members voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action on June 2, seeking wage improvements that would bring their compensation in line with comparable jobs across the aerospace sector.
“The jobs our members do are among the most advanced industrial jobs in the country,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Cascade Aerospace must recognize how important our members are to their business and pay industry-standard wages. Supporting good aerospace jobs in Abbotsford helps support families, our community and strengthens the entire regional economy.”
The strike follows weeks of negotiations between the union and company. Both parties negotiated until the deadline, but Cascade Aerospace did not present an offer that would satisfy the union’s request for compensation aligned with industry standards and increased living costs.
Workers cite specialized skills, tight deadlines
Steve Frank, Unifor Local 114 Plant Chair at Cascade Aerospace, emphasized the specialized nature of the work performed at the facility.
“Our jobs are here in BC and our members regularly work under very tight maintenance check timelines. The high quality of work our members perform on these aircraft is what has created Cascade’s reputation in the aerospace industry and in becoming only one of two Lockheed Martin C130J authorized heavy maintenance centers in the world,” said Frank. “Our demands are reasonable and straightforward: we want the same fair wages our colleagues make so we can continue to do our jobs with dignity and take pride in that the work we do is valued by this company.”
Unifor represents 320,000 workers in the private sector across Canada, including more than 10,000 workers in the country’s aerospace industry.
