What you can do to help striking workers at St. John’s Airport

PSAC members at the St. John’s Airport Authority went on strike at 5:00, Sept 11, 2012.  The members at this airport have been without a contract since 2009.  They delivered a 100% strike mandate to their negotiating team. 

This employer is looking for concessions that are completely unacceptable. 

-Concessions on job security.
-Concessions on contracting out.
-Concessions on benefits. 
-Concessions on pension.

This airport has an expansion project that will bring it in line with Halifax Airport and is in a very profitable position based on its’ recent financial statements.  Yet, its’ workers have not received a wage increase since 2008.  Statistics Canada has reported that the average weekly earnings in 2011 went up by 7%.

Wages at the St. John’s Airport are far behind those of comparable airports such as Halifax International.  The following are examples of what workers at the St. John’s Airport earn compared to the same position at the Halifax Airport:

                                                                 St. John’s     Halifax           Wage Gap

Light Duty Operator                                   $19.04            $29.01            52%

Heavy Equipment Operator                        $20.69            $30.54            48%

Firefighter                                                   $26.16            $34.39            31%

Electrican                                                   $25.12            $32.14            28%

Heavy Equipment Mechanic                       $23.06            $32.14            39%

Please contact the Keith Collins, CEO, St. John’s Airport Authority and ask him to take these concessions off the table and negotiate a fair Collective Agreement!!!

kcollins@stjohnsairport.com

709-758-8501