Perimeter Aviation workers ratify deal; Milton, Ont. transit drivers join ATU
Tentative deal at Toronto Parking Authority
TORONTO — Workers at Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) reached a tentative agreement on Oct. 15 and avoided a possible lockout or strike.
“Our expressed goal at the bargaining table is to protect Toronto’s critical parking infrastructure that we need now more than ever as we collectively respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Eddie Mariconda, CUPE 416 president.
Details of the agreement will not be released until it has been ratified, says CUPE.
Perimeter Aviation workers ratify deal
WINNIPEG — Perimeter Aviation flight attendants ratified a new two-year contact with the Winnipeg-based airline on Oct. 15.
The deal was signed after Unifor, Local 2002 conducted two Zoom meetings with 46 flight attendants to review the employer’s final contract offer, says the union.
“Unifor has been fighting to Build Back Better and get the aviation industry back up and running as we emerge out of COVID-19 and into the recovery stage,” says Jerry Dias, Unifor national president.
The agreement came just days after workers rejected Perimeter’s previous offer citing issues with wages, turnaround time between shifts, scheduling and other ongoing contractual concerns, says Unifor.
Some of the gains include improvements to overall work-life balance through a reduction in hours worked yearly, additional hours for mandatory rest periods, and improved wages totaling six per cent over the term of the agreement, says the union.
The contract comes into effect immediately and expires June 23, 2023.
Milton, Ont. transit drivers join ATU
MILTON, Ont. – Drivers at Milton Transit in Milton, Ont. voted on Oct. 14 in an 80 per cent majority to join the (Amalgamated Transit Union) ATU.
The union was contacted by a retired ATU member who says that his coworkers were demanding representation and protection from their private contractor Pacific Western Transit. Some of the key issues mentioned were unfair sign-ups, sick days and lack of protection for on-demand and para-transit workers, says the union.
“The vote from Milton Transit drivers shows an overwhelming vote of confidence for the ATU to fight for their rights at the bargaining table,” says John Di Nino, ATU Canada president.
Milton Transit is operated by Pacific Western. The ATU represents four bargaining units in three provinces: British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Milton is the fifth bargaining unit represented by the ATU. There is currently a union election for a PW Transit employee to join the ATU in Edmonton, says ATU.
Maple Leaf Foods workers sign contract
WINNIPEG — The United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW), Local 832 welcomed workers at Maple Leaf Foods Paquin Road in Winnipeg after successfully ratifying their first collective agreement on Oct. 15 at the company’s newest facility, which is set to open in November.
“Our union’s longstanding history of bargaining with Maple Leaf Foods means these workers are starting with a sophisticated contract that includes competitive wages and benefits,” says Jeff Traeger, UFCW, 832 president.
Alongside the Maple Leaf Foods Lagimodiere plant, the Paquin Road facility will be the company’s second set of operations in Winnipeg employing 90 members in the initial phase with planned expansion well into 2023, says the union.
