Productivity at Airbus plant in Canada slips as workers mull new contract offer

Productivity has slipped at a Montreal-area Airbus factory trying to ramp up assembly of the planemaker's smallest commercial jet, as workers consider a new contract offer, according to sources and a union memo sent on Friday. Airbus and union negotiators failed to reach a negotiated deal this week following intensive talks, but a second company offer will be considered by the estimated 1,300 workers on April 7, according to the memo seen by Reuters. Assembly workers at the plant, which makes A220 jets, were recently told by the company that overtime work was cut and productivity was down due to the talks and supply chain snags, three sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters.