Unifor 'disheartened' by Bombardier court injunction

Bombardier is seeking a court injunction it says isneededto keep people safe when entering the Thunder Bay plant while almost a thousand workers are on strike.

A company spokesperson says it sought the injunction Wednesday after concerns were raised by employees who are not on strike and needed to cross the picket line.

About 400 Bombardier employees do not belong to the local of striking Unifor workers.

Union spokesperson Andy Savela said he's not aware of any incidents that put people's safety at risk.

Obviously, when people are on strike, people's emotions run high, he said.

I don't think there have been any significant incidents. I know people are reluctant to just allow people free access to the work place.

Bombardier spokesperson Stephanie Ash said the company felt the injunction was warranted.

There were several incidents [Wednesday] morning where employees reported they felt it was not a safe place to enter the workplace and therefore the injunction has been filed, she said.

Savela said he's disheartened the company didn't speak directly to the union about safety concerns. He said the company forced the union into a strike and is now pushing again with the injunction.

They're treating the strike the same way, he said.

I think it's more a corporate mandate than anything else. I think this is the way they're going to deal with our union.