FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE
29, 2000
Ottawa – Travellers using Charlottetown, Edmonton, Regina or Saskatoon airports should make alternate arrangements, as workers at these four large airports may be on strike within the next two weeks. Combined with the threat of strike by Air Canada's pilots, summer season air travel will be difficult for thousands of travellers.
These airports' workers, who are members of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, a Component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, as their negotiations or conciliation with the airport authorities did not reach a satisfactory agreement.
"We don't want to inconvenience air travellers, but these airport authorities are not leaving us much choice," says Mike Wing, National President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE). "Our members at these airports have been without a contract for months."
"These airport authorities are looking for confrontation with our members," says Wing. "We are clearly seeing an orchestrated action of the Canadian Airports Council, the airport authorities association, to cut members' benefits and job security. We are fighting against job reduction that will jeopardize the safety of air travellers," indicates Wing.
UCTE-PSAC represents 2,000 workers at the majority of Canadian airports. These workers are responsible for airport maintenance, fire-fighting, as well as administrative duties. The vast majority of Canadian airports have been privatized and are operated by local authorities.
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For information: Mike Wing, UCTE national president
(613) 220-9464
40-290600