Wednesday October 4, 2017
For Immediate Release
Toronto, ON – The IAM has been given voluntary certification recognition of 26 baggage handlers at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. These workers will become the newest members of IAM Local lodge 2323.
“The owner of TBH – Toronto Baggage Handling – responded to a request for proposal from the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) to provide service involving reject baggage at Pearson,” explained IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson/Organizer Sam, Jabbar. “If a bag is left unclaimed on the carousels at the airport longer than four hours between flights, they are collected for later distribution. This is becoming a growing problem for passengers who have a long layover between connecting flights.”
To correct this problem, the GTAA put out a proposal for tender which was awarded to a numbered Ontario company owned by TBH. “We approached the owner asking for voluntary recognition because we felt it was our work,” said Jabbar. “Initially the owner rejected our request but when we informed him we had already signed up the workers and he faced a lengthy negotiation process, he granted our request to place the workers under the current TBH agreement.”
“Our representatives tour the airport constantly and they communicate with our members,” said Jabbar. “In this case our shop steward at TBH, Laila Hakimi learned of this new contract and passed it on to fellow General Chairperson Tal Rayat who immediately began to sign up the new workers. This team work resulted in a successful organizing victory.”
The IAM already represents workers at TBH which handles over sized baggage and inter-terminal baggage at Pearson. The IAM is the largest union at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
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For further information:
Sam Jabbar – IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson/Organizer
905-671-3192/416-875-8140
Tal Rayat – IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson
905-671-3192
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext# 31/416-735-9765
