Dozens of Canadian Air Safety Authority (CATSA) agents rallied in front of Vancouver Airport on Monday to protest low wages and “very difficult” working conditions.
With signs saying, “Stop the payroll,” they said they wanted to get public support and shed more light on staffing issues that have contributed to the recent hourly lineups at YVR.
“They have health and safety issues, mistreatment by management, higher labor demand than ever before and wages are not competitive compared to other places in the airline industry,” said Dave Flowers, national president of IAMAW. .
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The IAMAW, or International Association of Aerospace Mechanics and Workers, represents more than 40,000 Canadian workers. Workers protesting on Monday did so on time, without interfering with airport operations or adding to existing delays, Flowers said.
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CATSA agents are employed by Allied Universal and hired by the federal government.
Global News has contacted Allied Universal to comment on this story and will update the article upon receipt.
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According to Flowers, the salary range for CATSA control officers is between $ 17 and just under $ 22 per hour. Many agents, however, have not gained the experience or seniority needed to pass the salary scale, which means they earn less than what is considered a “decent salary” in Vancouver, he said.
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“There are very difficult working conditions that we are dealing with,” he told Global News. “It really comes down to retention and our members are in a very difficult position.”
Vancouver control agents are currently negotiating a new contract, Flowers added, but Monday’s actions are an unrelated campaign initiative.
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According to CATSA, there were about 7,400 control agents nationwide before the COVID-19 pandemic. There are now 6,500, including new hires that are not yet fully certified.
Last week, Transport Canada and Public Safety Canada announced that about 400 new officers will be deployed by June to help combat airport delays, and a more flexible incorporation process has been put in place to land them faster. “Pre-certified” agents are also used to perform non-selection functions, the departments added in a May 27 press release.
Flowers said it was “fantastic” news, but would not address the root of the problem: poor staff retention due to difficult working conditions.
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“They were one of the first industries to face large outbreaks of COVID-19. They were not allowed to leave their jobs, they were forced to enter and in many cases they did not have equipment to security protection to deal with it, ”he said.
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“Now, when it’s time to acknowledge this hard work, they are treated as if their work doesn’t matter.”
In a statement sent by e-mail on Tuesday, CATSA said it aims to hire 1,000 new control officers this year, in addition to the more than 1,200 who returned to work last year.
The authority said it is close to recruiting its full target of new hires at several airports, including Vancouver International Airport and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
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