News release: Labour disruption looms closer at YVR
Published by Patrick August 20th, 2009 in Bargaining, PSAC news releases, YVR Tags: Temporarily disabled.PSAC members working at the airport vote in favour of strike action
VANCOUVER, Aug. 20 /CNW/ – A possible labour disruption could cause delays for travelers arriving or departing from Vancouver International Airport in the near future. Employees working for the Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR), members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), have voted in favour of taking strike action, should it be necessary, in an effort to bring the Airport Authority back to the bargaining table with a meaningful mandate.
“We have one more meeting with a federal Conciliation Officer in an effort to avert a disruption in service, whether that be a strike or lockout.” says Kay Sinclair PSAC Regional Vice-President for BC. “Our first two days of meeting with the Conciliation Officer proved to be an exercise in futility and our members have no choice but to take this next step.”
“Despite making over 31 million dollars in revenue over expenses in the first six months of this year, YVR have tabled a financial offer that is far below average wage increases in the airport sector. They claim this is due to the state of the economy and the airline industry.” says Dave Clark, President of Local 20221 of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), a Component of the PSAC. “In the same economic environment every other comparable airport in the country is able to provide reasonable wage increase to their employees. Why can’t this Airport Authority?” asks Clark.
There are more than 325 PSAC members employed by the VIAA. These workers provide key services such as emergency response, international arrivals customer care, runway maintenance, airfield & approach lighting, computer system maintenance, baggage handling, passenger loading bridge operation, maintenance of airport equipment and administrative services.
A diverse union of over 165,000 and growing, PSAC members working in the public and private sectors deliver quality products and services to Canadians every day.