Air

WestJet members of Unifor Local 531 now have their own dedicated office space at Calgary International Airport.

The local proudly opened its first space for WestJet members on May 27, a significant step for them to be present more often in the airport where 910 of their members work.

More than 250 members joined the celebration, including Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier and Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.

Canada’s air transportation workers were stunned by U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprovoked and illegal trade war and his inflammatory comments threatening Canada’s sovereignty. 

From the potential for a recession to the reorganization of travel away from the U.S., the actions of this U.S. administration have the potential to seriously impact our industry and the global economy. 

Unifor is proud to welcome 245 part-time workers at the Nuance Group (Canada) Inc. at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

“We are thrilled to have Nuance members join Unifor,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We look forward to bargaining your first contract and improving working conditions for airport workers, including pushing back against contract flipping, and making sure you’re treated with the respect you deserve.”

Unifor sends our solidarity to the crew and passengers of Delta Flight 4819. We are proud of Unifor members' swift response to the incident yesterday at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Unifor Local 2002, District 333 members were onsite almost immediately, providing bus transportation to the terminal and working behind the scenes to assist the Delta passengers once they reached safety at the terminal. Unifor Local 2002 Ornge paramedic members provided medical care to passengers and provided air transport to regional hospitals to those most seriously injured.

GANDER, NFLD.—Pilots at the Gander, Nfld.-based Exploits Valley Air Services (EVAS) served a 72-hour strike notice to their employer last night, Oct. 18.

The unit will go on strike on Oct. 22 at 12:01 a.m. if a settlement isn’t reached.

The 18 members, who work as captains and first officers, are represented by Unifor Local 2002.

The members are seeking improvements on wages, working conditions, work-life balance and contracting language.

EVAS is a small airline that transports cargo and helps with evacuations (medevac).

Holding placards that read, “Bus or plane, Unifor scope is still the same,” more than 50 Unifor members and supporting unions and aviation organizations rallied at Pearson International Airport on June 5 to protect their scope work after Air Canada recently hired a bus company to shuttle passengers to different airports.

With Budget 2024, the federal government has, once again, opened the door for airport privatization and profitization in Canada. 

Overall, while Unifor was pleased to see this year’s federal budget build upon the social fabric Canada needs, the union is disappointed that Budget 2024 has advanced the possibility of airport privatization or for-profit transformation of Canada’s airport system.

Unifor has reached a tentative three-year agreement with Nasittuq Corporation, where Unifor members from Local 2002 work at the Canadian Forces Station Alert in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut.

Highlights of this contract include increased wages, benefits, premiums, allowances, and vacation pay after five years of service, as opposed to the previous 10-year mark. 

The approximately 281 members of the Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 are preparing for a strike vote next week after NAV Canada failed to reach an agreement with the union over wages and concessions.