Air

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.

Unifor welcomes 69 new members working at Concorde Airport Services in the Calgary International Airport, who voted almost 85% in favour of joining the union.

“We are thrilled these aviation workers have exercised their right to join a union, and have chosen Unifor,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

“Democracy at work starts with having a say in your working conditions.”

The certification for this unit took place March 8, 2024, and is assigned to Unifor Local 4050.

TORONTO—The Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA) at Unifor Local 1016 filed a Notice of Dispute last week to enter conciliation after hitting an impasse with NAV Canada in bargaining that began in May of last year.

“This filing is a continuation of the bargaining process with outside assistance,” said James Walker, president of CANSA and Unifor Local 1016. “We are committed to negotiating the best possible deal for our members during these challenging times.”

TORONTO – Unifor aviation members are gathering today at Pearson International Airport during the busy holiday travel season to bring awareness to poor working conditions in the sector that lead to delays, cancellations, lost baggage, and packed airports.

“We all know that travel chaos is common, even without the holiday rush,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

Editorial by Lana Payne, Unifor National President

Holiday travel often comes with dread and anxiety for many. Delays, lost baggage, packed airports. 

As a union representing aviation workers from baggage handlers to air traffic controllers, we and our members understand that these busy times expose and amplify many of the underlying problems in the sector. 

We reiterate our call for the federal government, airports and airlines to work together to tackle the root problems causing disarray in the aviation industry.