MONTREAL, March 5 (Reuters) - An Airbus

contract offer being voted on this month by Montreal-area

workers involved in the production of its smallest A220 jets is

being dismissed by their union as "totally unacceptable,"

according to a memo to members.

Airbus is holding talks with the estimated 1,300 workers in

Canada's province of Quebec at a time when the European

planemaker is trying to control costs on its loss-making A220

jet.

While details of the deal will only be presented on March

10, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace

Workers (IAM) warned in the letter that the offer "doesn't work

at all and is totally unacceptable."

A vote on a deal to replace the contract that expired in

December 2023 will be held on March 17.

"This offer, that we consider as hostile, cannot be left

without consequences," union negotiators said in the

French-language letter. "We must send a clear message to the

employer."

If the offer is rejected, IAM members can speak in favor of

using pressure tactics. Workers, however, would first need to

approve a strike authorization mandate before downing tools.