January 19, 2018 at 10:00 AM
As a result of advocacy by the union, Airport Terminal Services (ATS) has increased all wages for its Toronto Pearson International Airport workers by $2.20.
While ATS was required by law to increase wages for those earning less than $14, the company took the move a step further and increased wages by $2.20/hour for every level of the pay scale, with the highest paid on the wage grid now earning close to $20 an hour.
The change was agreed to in a signed memorandum of understanding with Unifor. The 175 workers at ATS are unionized with Local 2002 and work as baggage handlers, aircraft marshals, in lavatory services and as passenger service agents.
"In the ground handling world, the wages are not high, so this win is quite significant," said Leslie Dias, national representative in the airlines sector. “At a time when employers like Tim Hortons are crying poor, this is an important example of a business that understands if it wants to keep trained employees, it must also pay them properly."
Dias also mentioned that over the summer, ground handling companies operating at the airport were forced to pay higher wages beyond the legislated minimum to recruit new workers and reduce heavy turn-over.
This wage increase occurred outside of the collective bargaining period and is just one example of how the union continues to make gains for workers as a result of positive changes made from Ontario's recent labour law reforms.
Source: Unifor
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