July 12, 2016 at 4:00 PM
GTAA CONNECT (JULY 12, 2016) - DOWNLOAD PDF
During the week of July 4, 2016, the Unifor Bargaining Committee continued talks with the GTAA. Up until this point, bargaining focused primarily on non-monetary proposals, but this round of talks saw the union and company engaging in monetary discussions which progressed throughout the week. Patrick Rettig from Unifor’s Pensions and Benefits department attended the session and provided insight and analysis on the monetary proposals to-date.
The bargaining committee continues to discuss and evaluate key non-monetary proposals as well as the company’s monetary proposals. The parties will reconvene on Monday, July 18th to continue bargaining.
Below is some background on the ongoing issue of airport privatization in Canada. While this decision will ultimately be made by the Federal government, the issue has been raised at the bargaining table and has been a subject of discussion with the GTAA bargaining team and through them the GTAA’s leadership.
Privatization of Airports in Canada
On June 30, 2016, Howard Eng, President and CEO of the GTAA submitted a letter to the Canada Transportation Act Review Secretariat. The letter focused on the on-going issue of transferring ownership of Canadian airports (currently operated by not-for-profit airport authorities) to for-profit enterprises. This was a follow-up submission from February 2015.
In 2014, the now former Conservative Minister of Transport, Lisa Raitt, ordered a review of the Canada Transportation Act which governs Canada’s transportation system. A 500 page document – referred to as the Emerson Report – was issued which discusses, analyzes and makes recommendations on all modes of transportation in Canada. This also encompasses Canada’s airports and the organizations that manage them (including the Greater Toronto Airport Authority).
Instead of accepting the Emerson report and implementing its recommendations as is, Canada’s current Minister of Transport, Hon. Marc Garneau, announced an additional round of consultations surrounding the Canada Transportation Act. Those conversations are ongoing and Unifor will be involved every step of the way in one-on-one meetings, larger round table discussions and in collaboration with the Canadian Labour Congress and other allies to ensure our message is heard: The private ownership of Canadian airports would not lead an improved system. Canada needs a made-in-Canada transportation system that meets the needs of all stakeholders, including airport workers across the country.
Currently, the federal government is reviewing the Emerson Report and looking at whether Canada’s major airports should be sold off (i.e. privatized) in order to raise revenues and fund other infrastructure projects.
During the initial review process in 2015, Unifor made it clear that airport authorities must be mandated to balance “normal corporate governance practices” with the goals of providing decent employment and facilitating effective and mutually productive labour relations. Privatization could see cutbacks on maintenance, cleaning and other vital services and could potentially increase fees to airlines and other businesses. These consequences would ultimately affect how airlines (and related businesses) service their customers and would also destabilize working conditions, safety and current employment practices.
Unifor will be participating in the Minister of Transport’s ongoing consultation as it continues through the summer and fall. Our union will continue to advocate for our belief that privatization would not result in an improved system, and for the government to commit airport authorities to focus on meeting the needs of all stakeholders, including airport workers across the country.
For more information, please review the Emerson Report FAQ available here.
To receive updated news concerning negotiations, please subscribe to Unifor 2002 e-news by visiting our website and clicking on the SUBSCRIBE icon.
Unifor Local 2002 represents more than 1,000 members at the GTAA who are responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of Toronto Pearson airport.
Your GTAA Bargaining Committee
Antonios Kourteridis, Bargaining Chairperson
Mario Di Nardo, Bargaining Representative - Airside
Jeff Hatt, Bargaining Representative - Skilled Trades
Pauline Leloudas, Bargaining Representative - Professional & Support
Adriana Ragoonath, Bargaining Representative - Operations
Sreten Stamenkovic, Bargaining Representative - Facilities
Ashley Watkins, Assistant to the Local President
Cheryl Robinson, Unifor Local 2002 President
Gary Ellis, Unifor National Representative
Important Links
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