Pearson Airport ground crew rejects offers, begin striking
TORONTO (CP) — About 700 ground crew workers at Canada’s busiest airport went on strike Thursday night after they rejected a contract offer from their employer.
The members represented by the Teamsters union marched at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport waving picket signs and chanting “respect.”
“We’re hoping to have little or no impact on the public, Local 419 vice-president Harjinder Badial told reporters after the membership voted.
The labour dispute could have an impact on some operations at Pearson, but the Greater Toronto Airports Authority earlier said it had a contingency plan in place in the event of a strike or labour disruption but did not provide details.
The unionized workers are employed by Swissport, a company that services 30 airlines at the airport including Sunwing, Air Transat, Air France and British Airways.
The workers include baggage handlers, cargo handlers, cabin cleaners and other ground staff, as well as some employees who tow planes for the airlines Swissport services.
The workers rejected a contract proposal from Swissport by a 95 per cent margin, Badial told reporters. He scoffed at the notion that Swissport said it was the final offer.
“I’ve heard that many times before in my career as a labour unionist and I assure you eventually I will get a call,” he said.
The union says Swissport is attempting to impose a three-year wage freeze on the majority of the workers, require staff to work a minimum of 30 hours a week to qualify for full benefits, and is seeking the right to change schedules with 96 hours advance notice.
“We tried our best to reach an acceptable agreement with the company. Swissport just wasn’t interested,” said Badial.
“Sadly, the company is insisting on forcing a bad deal on workers.”
Workers will be picketing at the airport but Badial said they would not interfere with passengers trying to catch planes.
“Our fight is not with the general public, it’s with Swissport management and we’re not here to delay any sort of flights or anything like that,” he said.
Some of the airlines serviced by Swissport also said they were prepared if workers walked off the job.
Air Transat said it was taking measures to ensure none of its flights would be delayed if a strike occurs. British Airways said it had a contingency plan and would continue to operate all its flights.
Pierre Payette, Swissport Canada’s vice president of operations, said the company has bargained in good faith throughout contract talks. It also put out a memo to employees Tuesday, asking them to vote in favour of the company’s final offer.
The union, however, has described Swissport’s contract as unfair to its workers. It has also taken issue with the company’s decision to hire 250 temporary workers last May.