Toronto, ON – The Canada Industrial Relations Board has told Garda Security Screening Inc. that its Screening Point Managers (SPM’s) at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport have the right to join the IAM.
The decision stems from unfair labour practices filed with the board against Garda by IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 last month. The board also ordered Garda to reinstate IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Barrington Burnett who organized the group of SPM’s at Toronto Airports. Garda had terminated Burnett’s employment. Garda was also ordered to reinstate Elie Germeil, Michael John and Christopher Hasan. They were terminated for assisting in the organizing campaign. Following Burnett’s termination, Garda posted notices in the work place instructing employees not to deal with Barnett in his capacity as an elected representative of the IAM for the certified bargaining unit of screening officers. The Board ordered Garda to remove all such notices.
The Board also ordered Garda to post the following statements in the work place with the notice of the award:
Every employee is free to join the trade union of their choice and to participate in its lawful activities.
Employees have the right not to be discriminated against or be penalized by an employer because they seek to exercise rights under the Code.
The Board has an extensive remedial authority to counteract violations of the Code if it finds that there is merit to the unfair labour practice complaints filed with the Board.
“This is a tremendous victory for our union and our members at Local Lodge 2921,” said a pleased IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 President and Directing General Chairperson Fred Hospes. “Barry is our General Chairperson of our airport security screeners, he will continue to represent our members and the company will not tell us who our union representative will be. Barry was doing his job and the three employees who assisted him were exercising their democratic rights under the code. We sent a clear message to Garda, we won’t be bullied and the Board decision enforces it.”
The IAM represents 2,300 airport security screeners at Toronto’s Pearson and Billy Bishop Airports.
