Canada's Bombardier workers vote to strike 

(MENAFN) Workers at Canada's Bombardier Learjet rejected a contract offer from the company and voted to strike, AP reported, citing a machinists union spokesman.

Bob Wood said that union members voted 79 percent in favour of rejecting the proposed five-year contract and also 79 percent in favour of a strike.

The proposed contract offered no raises the first year and a 1 percent raise for each subsequent year. It would have retained pension plans but increased the cost of health care.

The company said it believes the contract offer was fair and reasonable. Bombardier Business Aircraft spokeswoman Danielle Boudreau said that the proposal for employees ensured the long-term success and potential of Learjet, while also taking care of workers.

Wood said that the union believes the proposed contract was too long. He said workers would benefit instead from a three-year agreement, because they can reassess market conditions then.

The machinists union, which represents 825 hourly workers in Wichita, went on strike for three weeks in 2006, the first in the Wichita plant's history.

The current expiring contract was approved in 2009 amid the nation's economic downturn.