Toronto-area Bombardier workers ratify collective agreements

Bombardier Aerospace employees assemble a Q400 airliner at the Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility in Toronto, March 25, 2011. (Darren Calabrese / The Canadian Press)

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TORONTO -- Members of two Unifor locals at Bombardier Aerospace in Downsview, Ont., have ratified new collective agreements with the company.

The union says the agreements approved Sunday include improved pensions and job security, along with wage increases.

The contracts cover members of Unifor Local 112 who work in production at the Toronto-area plant, as well as members of Unifor Local 673 who work in technical office and clerical positions.

There will be wage hikes in the second and third year of the agreements of one and 1.25 per cent respectively.

The contracts expire in June 2018.

The union says the agreements also call for contract workers to be made permanent.

"This deal represents a significant gain for our members in a difficult time for the business jet market," said Scott McIlmoyle, president of Unifor Local 112, in a release.