News provided by CTV News – link to full story and updates
Rachel Lau Digital reporter, CTV News Montreal, December 31, 2019
MONTREAL — Workers in charge of refuelling planes at both Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Mirabel Airport walked off the job at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
This comes after they rejected a deal presented by their union last week, with a vote of 90 per cent.
The move presents the possibility of a strike – with 99 per cent of members voting in favour of action – that could ground planes and stall air travel in Montreal for New Year’s.
“What we want is an employment contract that respects the workers. It’s disappointing to have to go on strike to make the employer understand that,” said union executive Peter Tsoukalas. “Our attitude has not change. Our intention is to reach a win-win agreement… We were disappointed to see the employer mobilize its resources to try to invalidate our right to strike.”
Last Friday, the company said it was “surprised and disappointed with the outcome of today’s vote since we have answered the great majority of the union demands.”
Swissport Canada Inc. officials insist the “proposal was fair and included significant improvements in total compensation and work conditions.”
It adds that it will work to make sure planes remain fuelled during the busy holiday season “as we go back to the negotiation table.”
Trudeau airport officials say they are working with Swissport “to rapidly deploy its contingency plan, including providing managers with access to restricted zones so that they can ensure the continuation of aircraft refuelling activities.”
Officials note they are monitoring the situation, but the dispute could result in flight delays.
The contract for unionized workers, including aircraft refuellers, mechanics, dispatchers and maintenance employees, ended last August.
They say their main concerns are wages and work-life balance.