Airport Strike Averted After Company asks for Mediator
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
For Immediate Release
Vancouver, B.C. – A strike by Perimeter Security Guards at Vancouver International Airport has been averted. The members of Machinist Local Lodge 16 decided not to proceed with their legal strike after Securiguard Services Incorporated agreed to mediation arbitration in order to settle the dispute.
The 250 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 16 have been trying to negotiate their first collective agreement for more than 12 months. “The company came to us less than two hours before our deadline asking if we would accept a mediator to settle this dispute,” said IAMAW General Chairperson Mike Clegg. “Our members were out in force this morning ready to strike to back their demands for a first collective agreement and I believe this show of force was the key to avoiding a potentially disruptive work stoppage.”
The two sides will meet with federal arbitrator Vince Ready on Wednesday in an effort to reach an agreement. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, Ready will issue a decision that is binding. Contentious issues include scheduling, working conditions, shift preferences and favouritism – the same issues which caused the workers to join the IAMAW in March 2005. “The bottom line is that the company will have to give us our first collective agreement and that’s what we wanted in the first place,” said Clegg.
The 250 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 IAMAW represents more than 5,500 workers at Vancouver International Airport employed by Air Canada, United Airlines, Securiguard Services and various fuelling and ground service operators.
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 defense-related industries.
For further information:
Mike Clegg – IAMAW District Lodge 140 General Chairperson
604-448-0721/604-825-0505
Bill Trbovich – IAMAW Director of Communications
416-386-1789 ext 31/416-735-9765
