Tuesday June 20, 2017
For Immediate Release
St. John’s, NL – The negotiations began with an 85 per cent rejection of the final and global offer by the employer and ended with an 84 per cent acceptance by the membership. “In between we rejected lump sum payments in lieu of retro pay and refused wage offers that were insulting,” explained IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Ken Russell. “I’m very proud of our membership here in St John’s.”
The St John’s group was the last of a Canada-wide bargaining effort by Swissport that began with Vancouver and worked its way east resulting in negotiations here beginning several months after the expiration date of the old agreement of August 31, 2016. With the ratification, members will receive retro payments for all hours worked including overtime, stat holidays and premiums back to September 1, 2016. They will receive significant wage increases for the remainder of the new agreement beginning September 1, 2017. The lead hand premium provides an additional $3.00 per hour.
“These members have experienced the cut throat effects of their employer being bought and sold from Hudson General to Globe Ground North America to Penauille Servisair to Servisair and now Swissport, all turning up the heat in the race to the bottom for our members,” explained Russell. “I’m proud they stood their ground.
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For further information:
Ken Russell – IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson
902-481-0077/902-221-6140
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext #6331/416-735-9765
