News
YVR workers vote in favour of strike
Aug. 13, 2013, Vancouver - Hundreds of unionized workers at Vancouver International Airport have voted strongly in favour of a strike, and could walk out as early as Labour Day.
August 13, 2013 By The Canadian Press
Public Service Alliance of Canada regional executive vice president for B.C., Bob Jackson, says 300 PSAC and Union of Canadian Transportation Employees have voted 83 per cent in favour of job action.
He says the workers, employed by the Airport Authority, provide services such as emergency response, international arrivals customer care, passenger loading, runway maintenance and lighting, general maintenance and administration.
Flexible shifts and protection from contracting out are two of the main issues.
UCTE vice president Dave Clark says management at the airport refuse to discuss the union's demands around life-work balance and job security and also want to impose a two-tier wage system, with the creation of a new class of "seasonal workers.''
He says union members felt they had no choice but to take a strike vote and he warns workers will walk out if key issues are not addressed.
