Ottawa Swissport Workers Join The Machinists!

Thursday November 20, 2008
For Immediate Release

Ottawa, ON – Following the lead of their co-workers in Hamilton, Swissport employees at Ottawa McDonald Cartier International Airport have joined the IAMAW.

The 28 newest members of IAMAW Local Lodge 2413 include passenger agents, lead passenger agents, ramp agents and lead ramp agents who provide aircraft handling services for United Airlines and United Express. “We have been working with these people for over a year and they had been hesitant about joining a union over fears of management reprisals,” said IAMAW District 140 Organizer Ian Morland. “But once they learned we had organized their co-workers in Hamilton in mid-September, the rush to join us was overwhelming.”

The IAMAW currently represents Swissport employees at Montréal’s Trudeau International, Vancouver International and Hamilton International Airports.

IAMAW, among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, 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.

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For further information:
Ian Morland – IAMAW District 140 Organizer
905-671-3192 ext #222/416-875-8140

Bill Trbovich – IAMAW Director of Communications
416-386-1789 ext #6331/416-735-9765