Labour board rules D-J Composites engaged in bad-faith bargaining

GANDER, NL, May 3, 2017 /CNW/ - The Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board ruled on Wednesday that U.S.-owned D-J Composites violated section 75 of the Labour Relations Act by engaging in bad-faith bargaining with its Gander employees, members of Unifor Local 597.

"This is an exceptionally important decision that reinforces what Unifor has been saying all along - that this employer was not interested in reaching a fair contract with its employees," said Lana Payne, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director.  "D-J Composites introduced proposals that no reasonable union would agree to. In our Union's opinion, these proposals were designed to lengthen the lockout‎."

D-J Composites has been ordered to remove all proposals that attempt to eliminate seniority-based rights for Unifor Local 597 members and is further ordered to deliver a new offer, without the offending proposals, to the union within seven days. Hearings concluded on May 1 and a decision was offered only two days later.

"This is a significant decision by the NL Labour Board that upholds the principles of fair collective bargaining," said Shane Wark, Unifor Assistant to the President. "The board not only found the company guilty of violating the Act, it also ordered several remedies which we hope will lead to renewed bargaining and a fair contract for our members."

The offending proposals from the employer were first tabled in early March after the members of Local 597 had been locked out for nearly three months.

"On behalf of our members, I want to thank the labour board for its quick decision," said Carolyn Wrice, President of Unifor Local 597. "These members have had a very tough winter on the picket line and we're all eager to see this dispute resolved." 

The 32 aerospace workers have been locked out by the employer since December 19, 2016.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications National Representative Shelley Amyotte at [email protected] or 902-717-7491 (cell).