Monday December 17, 2018
For Immediate Release
Ottawa, ON – Members of IAM Local 2413 have rejected the final contract offer by Innotech Aviation and will be in a legal strike position on Christmas Day.
“Our position from day one of bargaining has been that this is not, nor has it ever been a minimum wage job and that a DZ License is required for Line Service Reps (LSR’s),”explained IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson MichaelCorrado.
The members at Innotech consist of customer service representatives (CSR’S) and line service representatives which service, fuel, tow, park and de-ice aircraft at the Fixed Base Operator (FBO).
“The employer isproposing entry level wages that resemble those paid to students in the fastfood industry. Our members service the Prime Ministers aircraft. This is not aMcJob” explained Corrado. “When the present agreement was negotiated in 2013,the minimum wage was $10.25 per hour and the starting rate for an LSR was$14.07 or $3.82 an hour above the minimum wage. Furthermore the starting rate fora CSR was $12.88 or $2.63 an hour above minimum wage. The final offer from the employer for this round of bargaining was a $14.61 an hour starting rate for LSR’s ($ .61 more than minimum wage) and a $14.00 an hour starting rate for CSR’s which is minimum wage.”
The employer has extreme difficulties hiring DZ licensed drivers at these near minimum wage salaries. The employer has proposed to pay for the DZ license training of their employees but will recoup the costs of this training if the employee doesn’t stay for at least a year and a half. “Unless the employer is prepared to pay respectable wages, there is no way the Union will agree to the clawing back of these costs.This simply allows the employer the ability to enslave workers who are making close to minimum wage. Workers wouldn’t be able to afford to quit as they would be required to pay back up to $3000 in training costs.” said Corrado. “Our members rejected this final offer outright and we will be in a legal strike
Innotech operates the Shell Aero Centre at the Ottawa International Airport providing fueling and baggage handling services for Swift Air, Delta Charters, Miami Air, Transport Canada, Department of Defense, Air North, Ornge Air Ambulance, U.S. military, Netjets and Keewatin Air.
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For further information:
Michael Corrado – IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson
905-671-3192/416-407-6535
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext #31/416-735-9765
