Saturday March 23, 2019
For Immediate Release
Calgary, AB – The IAM is adamantly opposed to plans by the Calgary Airport Authority to legislate a single operator to deice all departing aircraft at the Calgary International Airport. This essentially is privatizing de-icing services at the airport and could result in the loss of hundreds of jobs.
“The plan is to put the service out to tender and the winning bid will be responsible for the deicing of all aircraft from the Calgary Airport,” explained IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Keith Aiken. “Currently deicing is handled by IAM members at Air Canada, Swissport and Airport Terminal Services for airlines such as Air Canada, United, KLM, Delta, Horizon, Sunwing, Alaska and American.”
“This is just another form of contract flipping and it threatens the jobs of more than 200 of our members at Air Canada, Swissport and ATS. It will also impact our members at the bargaining table. The formula is a familiar one, profit will come off the backs of the workers”
Aiken also notes that the IAM is worried that airlines will reduce service into YYC as the cost of deicing will be too high due to there being no competition between service providers. “When the Company that provides deicing has a monopoly, the travelling public will lose out.” says Aiken. “I know of airlines that currently only operate seasonal service as the cost of deicing in the winter months is too high. What will the cost of deicing look like under a monopoly of a single service provider?” Aiken believes that YYC will see a reduction of carriers and consumer choice due to the Calgary Airport Authorities decision.
The IAM is the largest union at the Calgary Airport.
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For further information:
Keith Aiken – IAM Transportation District LODGE 140 General Chairperson
403-719-8140/403-921-8140
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext #31/416-735-9765
