15 August, 2006
For immediate release
VANCOUVER, B.C. – With a 98 percent strike vote, Machinist Union Local Lodge 16 members are ready to strike at Vancouver International Airport due to the employer’s unwillingness to bargain for a first contract.
“If the employer continues to evade bargaining, all 250 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 16 are prepared to go on strike,” said Mike Clegg, General Chair with the Machinists Union. “We’ve been trying to bargain for the better part of 12 months, but have seen no willingness from Securiguard Services Inc. that they are ready to meet with us,” he said.
Local Lodge 16 members provide security services around the perimeter of the airport, which includes checking suspicious packaged items and validating the identity of airport personnel to prevent any non-employee intrusions.
The Machinists Union applied for certification for the 250 workers in April 2005. The company fought the process tooth and nail the whole way until the workers were granted representation with the Machinists Union in March 2006. The same has held true for the bargaining process.
After Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) ruled that the Union was entitled to get dates for bargaining, the company sent a letter of complaint. HRSDC replied that the company was either to agree to bargaining dates or face a strike.
“The company forced us into doing this thinking they could get public opinion going against the Union. Our members didn’t fall for it and have given the Union a 98 percent mandate to conduct a strike,” said Clegg. “The Canada Industrial Labour Relations Board ruled that perimeter security at Vancouver International Airport was under the federal jurisdiction of the Canada Labour Code. The company resisted certification in our Union and has never gotten over that decision,” he said.
Issues being brought forward by the Union are scheduling, working conditions, shift preferences and favouritism – the same issues which caused the workers to seek a union.
The IAMAW is represents more than 700,000 active and retired members and administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking, aerospace, manufacturing and defence-related industries.
