PSAC members of UCTE (Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, a component of PSAC) Local 50600 at the Winnipeg Airport Authority have been without a contract since June 30, 2016. Negotiations have been ongoing since the collective agreement expired and in June of this year we requested the assistance of a mediator.
To date, the employer has refused to take contracting-out off the table. While there are other issues, such as money, not yet resolved, this local has a solid “no contracting out” clause that WAA wants to remove.
While we understand the difficulties involved with an airport strike, protecting job security in this collective agreement is something these members have been fighting to protect for several rounds and could very well mean elimination of the majority of their jobs if it’s not protected in their collective agreement.
We are all hoping that strike action won't be necessary, but the members are ready to stand their ground. If the employer refuses to back down and no tentative agreement is reached during mediation the week, our members could be on strike as early as midnight on July 21.
If that happens, I respectfully ask all union members to not cross the picket line and to make alternative travel arrangements.
Please join us for a short rally on Friday, July 14 at the Winnipeg Airport outside the departures area. We will only be there from 12 noon until 12:30 p.m. (lunch breaks for the staff) and we will not be impeding anyone from entering the terminal. This is a public showing of support aimed at airport management to show the members are ready and that they have the support of other unions as they prepare for mediation the week after.
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 July 14 Rally Poster | 156.22 KB |