 |
Commissionaires
|
| newsletters Collective Agreement Regional Pages |
PSAC's vision for organizing Commissionaires:
PSAC will become the union to represent Commissionaires across Canada
over the next number of years - building a network of Commissionaires
one local at a time.
Updates
PEI Commissionaires unionzed…finally!
It is with great pleasure that PSAC received notification from the PEI Labour Board late in December that union certification had been achieved by employees of the Corps of Commissionaires in that province.
“This was a wonderful Christmas present for the many Commissionaires who have been waiting for the last 18 months for this issue to be resolved by the Labour Board,” stated Jeannie Baldwin, Regional Executive Vice President.
The Corps of Commissionaires used every legal argument at their disposal to try to deny their employees union certification. The employer's efforts failed and the union prevailed.
“I congratulate those Commissionaires who led this organizing campaign from the beginning and persevered through all of their employer's delay tactics,” said David Shaw, PSAC's Regional Organizer. “We knew after the application for representation was submitted in May of 2003 that a majority of the Commissionaires supported the union, it was just a matter of being patient through a prolonged and frustrating legal process…but we won!”
The next challenge for these new PSAC members will be to negotiate their first collective agreement. Other Commissionaires who have unionized with PSAC have negotiated very respectable collective agreements, most notably in the Ontario region.
Contact: David Shaw, Regional Organizer, 902- 565-2975
May 28, 2004
ALBERTA COMMISSIONAIRES INFORMATION UPDATE
2004 continues to be very busy with many Commissionaire issues being resolved through the grievance process, at the Labour Relations Board, before the Alberta Employment Standards and at the negotiating table. At the same time the PSAC continues to hear from more and more Commissionaires dissatisfied with their employment relationship with the Corps and looking to make a positive change at work by joining the PSAC. We thought you should know the latest news.
On January 14, 2004 the Union filed an Unfair Labour Practice complaint at the Alberta Labour Relations Board claiming the newly organized Commissionaires working as Security Escorts were denied YYC Bucks because of their support for the PSAC. YYC Bucks, which are produced and authorized by the Airport Authority, are analogous to coupons or vouchers redeemable as cash for products and services available at the Calgary Airport . The YYC Bucks have been circulated to all Commissionaires working at the Airport for the past few years prior to Christmas and were given to all non-union Commissionaires at the Airport in December 2003.
The Union had evidence that the management of the Corps at the CAA had intentionally denied the PSAC Commissionaires from receiving the YYC Bucks because of support for the Union . On February 20, 2004 the PSAC withdrew the complaint to the Labour Relations Board and the Corps agreed to circulate over $1000.00 worth of YYC Bucks to over Fifty (50) PSAC Commissionaires working as Security Escorts.
Jacqueline is a uniformed Commissionaire that has worked for the Corps since June 2002 at many locations including the Airport as a Security Escort. Ms. Peters claimed the Corps disregarded her seniority and denied her wages when they transferred her off the Airport site working as a Security Escort that both diminished her pay rate and hours.
As a result of a successful grievance, the Union was able to reinstate Ms. Peters 2002 seniority date, receive lost wage compensation and was reassigned back to her original position as a Security Escort. In addition the Corps apologized to Ms. Peters for any inconveniences she may have experienced.
Paula is a uniformed Commissionaire that has worked for the Corps since August 2003 at the Calgary Airport as a Security Escort. Ms. Stuart claimed the Corps denied her the opportunity to become a uniformed Commissionaire after she was laid off from her assignment as a Security Escort because of her support for the Union .
As a result of a successful grievance, the Corps agreed to provide Ms. Stuart with the opportunity to become a CQC qualified Commissionaire, be assigned full time work and have agreed to transfer Ms Stuart back the Airport by seniority. Paula continues to work full time as a CQC qualified uniformed Commissionaire.
Mike first worked for the Corps as a Security Escort at the Calgary Airport in the fall of 2001. Mike claimed the Corps terminated his employment without regard to his seniority which resulted in lost wages and failed to pay him termination pay as obliged by the Alberta Employment Standards Code.
When the Corps failed to resolve the matter in the grievance procedure, the Union filed complaints for Mike at both the Alberta Labour Relations Board and the Alberta Employment Standards Branch. As a result of these successful complaints the Corps has agreed to pay Mike termination pay and compensate him for his lost wages when prematurely laid off. In addition and as a result of this complaint, the Corps has agreed to a fair method of calculating seniority and posting the seniority list twice a year.
Dave McIntyre was hired as a Security Escort at the Calgary Airport in the summer of 2003. Dave claimed the Corps refused to permit him an opportunity to become a CQC qualified uniformed Commissionaire after lay off because of his support for the Union even though Dave had served many years in military service.
As a result of a successful grievance, the Corps agreed to provide Mr. McIntyre an opportunity to become a CQC qualified Commissionaire and commended him in writing for being a “good employee” and “looks forward to viewing your application in the future”.
As a result of a shortage of work which commonly happens during the winter months at the Calgary Airport many Security Escorts were laid off. Unfortunately they were laid off with little or no notice. As a group they claimed the Corps should have paid them termination pay and filed a grievance.
When the Corps failed to resolve this issue in the grievance process the Union filed several complaints to the Alberta Employment Standards Branch. As a result of these successful complaints by the Union the Corps has agreed to pay all the complainants termination pay and have further agreed to review all lay offs and pay termination where applicable.
On January 26, 2004 uniformed Commissionaires working at Olds College voted 100% to join the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Congratulations and welcome to the PSAC family! Negotiations have now commenced, the parties have met and have exchanged proposals. We are confident of a negotiated resolve soon.
Unfortunately negotiations are dragging on at the Calgary Airport and increasingly both the bargaining team and the membership are becoming frustrated by the Corps refusal to take these negotiations seriously. At a recent specially called meeting, those in attendance voted 100% by secret ballot to support the bargaining team's right to call for a strike vote if necessary to achieve a collective agreement. There are hundreds of PSAC members and other union members working at the Airport who will be very supportive if called upon.
March 15, 2004
On January 14, 2004 the Union filed an Unfair Labour Practice complaint at the Alberta Labour Relations Board claiming the newly organized Commissionaires working as Security Escorts were denied YYC Bucks because of their support for the PSAC.
YYC Bucks, which are produced and authorized by the Airport, are analogous to coupons or vouchers redeemable as cash for products and services available at the airport. The YYC Bucks have been circulated to all Commissionaires working at the Airport for the past few years prior to Christmas and were given to all non-union Commissionaires at the Airport in December 2003.
The Union had evidence that the management of the Corps at the CAA had intentionally denied the PSAC Commissionaires from receiving the YYC Bucks because of support for the Union.
On February 20, 2004 the PSAC withdrew the complaint to the Labour Relations Board and the Corps agreed to circulate over $1000.00 worth of YYC Bucks to over Fifty (50) PSAC Commissionaires working as Security Escorts.
December 22, 2003
PSAC members working for the Corps of Commissionaires at the Toronto Pearson Airport have achieved their first negotiated collective agreement.
The Negotiating Team is proud to announce that members of the local
ratified the agreement with a very solid majority.
"The negotiations were long and detailed," according the Regional
Executive Vice President, Gerry Halabecki. "The nature of the relationship
of the employer, the Corps, and their clients impacted on the way
that we eventually came to agreement on articles." Halabecki adds
"what we've achieved was based on the members' objectives of having
greater control over scheduling, discipline, hours of work and promotions."
Other gains include wage increases, a signing bonus, improvements
to leave provisions, enhanced protection from harassment and discrimination,
seniority rights, redeployment provisions, overtime and callback
pay, grievance procedures, shoe and clothing allowances, to name
but a few.
The gains these workers have achieved are of tremendous importance.
In a sector where work is precarious at times and where pay and
benefits are modest, any gains with respect to achieving more dignity
and respect in the workplace are gains to be celebrated.
PSAC members, officers and staff across the country applaud the
Commissionaires at Toronto Pearson Airport. The gains you've made
will benefit other Commissionaires seeking PSAC representation right
across the country.
PSAC, Commissionaires spread Holiday cheer in community
PEI Commissionaires are currently engaged in a union drive and are at the stage of waiting for a decision from the provincial labour relations board to decide on their application for certification. As a delay tactic, the employer, the Corps of Commissionaires, challenged the application to the Board last spring claiming they are not the employer.
 |
 |
| From left to right, Union of Veterans Affairs Employees Local President Debi Buell, Commissionaire David Clow in Santa suit and Local Vice-President Kim Coles distribute union news to PSAC members. |
Comments / Feedback
Commissionaires working with PSAC representatives
to achieve union representation is our mutual goal. To be successful,
we must communicate with each other, share ideas, explore challenges
and find solutions to them. If you have any ideas, questions, or
comments you would like to discuss,
let us know.