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After more than three weeks on the picket lines, striking Bombardier machinists will receive their first checks from the union.
Workers started picking up checks at the Machinist Union Hall Wednesday morning. Strikers will receive $150 from the International Machinists Union strike fund and another $200 from the union's light aircraft steering committee fund.
The committee authorized six weeks of payments.
Striking workers can also pick up groceries from a food bank operated by the union.
"We're making a sacrifice now for a better future," said IAM spokesman Bob Wood said.
Before the strike began, union members were told to expect a long drawn out negotiation over healthcare benefits. Wood said there has been no progress at all and no negotiations are scheduled right now.
"They just need to get back together." said Terry Smith, a nearly 30 year employee of Bombardier-Learjet. He declined to take any food because other workers need the help more.
He called for both sides to hash out a deal. "It's not doing the company any good and it's not doing us any good," Smith said.
The machinists have been on strike since October 8.