Joining the Machinists Pays off for Airport Security Guards!
Thursday November 15, 2007
For Immediate Release
Vancouver, BC – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers made good on a promise to 182 employees of Securiguard Services, to deliver a better work life and future. The foundation of that future came in the form of an extension to their first collective agreement which provides for wage increases of more than 34 per cent over five years.
“It was a battle to get the first agreement which required a binding arbitration decision,” said IAMAW Grand Lodge Representative Ron Fontaine. “Our members were very disappointed in the monetary award of this decision but realised we had an agreement and had to move forward. Wages were the issue and we immediately wanted to increase them as much and as quickly as possible.” The average wage for the group in the contract which expires June 30, 2008, was $10.97 per hour.
The contract extension provides average wage increases of 10.5 per cent on July 1, 2008, 8.75 per cent in 2009, 7.6 per cent in 2010, 4.2 per cent plus a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in 2011 and 4.2 per cent plus COLA in 2012. The 182 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 16 ratified the agreement by a 91 per cent margin. “Nothing has been easy for these people,” explained Fontaine. “When we organized them in August 2006, we had to write new law for the certification. It took 12 months before the Canada Industrial Labour Relations Board ruled that perimeter security at Vancouver International Airport was under the federal jurisdiction of the Canada Labour Code. This is a great day for the members and the Machinists.”
The members provide security services around the perimeter of the airport which includes checking suspicious packed items and validating the identity of airport personnel to prevent any non-employee intrusions.
The IAMAW represents more than 700,000 active and retired members in North America and administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking, aerospace, manufacturing and defense-related industries.
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For further information:
Ron Fontaine – IAMAW Grand Lodge Representative
604-303-0461/604-340-2083
Bill Trbovich – IAMAW Director of Communications
416-386-1789 ext 31/416=-735-9765
