Richmond, BC – Four hundred ramp, grooming, baggage sortation and maintenance workers from Local Lodge 16 working at Swissport ratified their contract in December 2021. The three-year contract included enhancements in wages, signing bonus, increase in premiums and a guarantee on employee benefits costs and was ratified by a count of 69%.
Other improvements include a better flexibility for time off. Wage increases were front-end-loaded and were between 20-23%. Both BSO and grooming departments have been shut down so only ramp and maintenance are currently working. The company also offered a one-year agreement in September 8 which was rejected by 77%.
Vlad Korchoun, Ron Krishna, Scott MacKinnon, Clement Nunes and Brian Hunt comprised the Negotiating Committee. “We started the process in August 2021,” said Todd Haverstock, General Chairperson for IAM District 140. “This was a significant CBA as it set the bar for the minimum wage rate for ramp agents at the airport. This is now the new wage standard that we have been using in the other agreements we’ve reached. The minimum wage is $20.00 per hour.
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For more information:
Todd Haverstock, General Chairperson, IAM District 140
thaverstock@iam140.ca
