Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

For Immediate Release: VANCOUVER – Picket lines could be up at Vancouver International Airport Thursday morning at 8:00 am as members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) will be in a legal strike position against their employer Limo Jet Gold Express Ltd.

The PSAC represents drivers at Limo Jet, the exclusive provider of limousine service at the Vancouver International Airport. “Management at Limo Jet, have refused to seriously deal with the issue of dispatch fees and allow its employees to make a decent living” said Patty Ducharme, PSAC’s Regional Executive Vice-President for BC.

“On average PSAC members are paying more in dispatch fees to Limojet then they earn in wages to support their families,” Ducharme added. “Instead of getting serious about bargaining Limojet ownership is threatening to close the operation and put people out of work.”

The principals of Limo Jet Gold Express Ltd, including former federal Revenue Minister Herb Dhaliwal, have threatened to close operations as of 12:00 noon this Friday, March 31, 2006. “Picket lines at the Vancouver International Airport would be unfortunate, but our members are not going to back down in the face of these threats from the company,” stated Ducharme.

The main issue in dispute is the amount of the monthly fees the drivers pay to Limo Jet Gold Express Ltd. for the dispatch services it provides. “Union drivers are seeking a small reduction in those fees because they can’t make ends meet, their costs keep going up, and their take-home pay keeps going down,” Ducharme said.

Limojet is also requiring that all drivers incur the expense of providing newer vehicles than the ones they currently provide.

The collective agreement expired December 31, 2005. Limo Jet Gold Express Ltd. and the PSAC have been in negotiations for new collective agreement since February 1, 2006.

For Information: Patty Ducharme – Regional Executive Vice President B.C. 604.430.5631