May 08, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
MONTREAL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Screening officers at various Quebec airports have ratified new two-year labour contracts that include 12.5% wage increases retroactive to March 2022. For the first time ever, Quebec screening officers, i.e., at the Dorval and Quebec City airports and the 12 regional airports, bargained as a common front.
Syndicat des Métallos/United Steelworkers union spokespersons elatedly reported that “Quebec’s screening officers have the best conditions in Canada. Negotiations were long and arduous, but we’re happy with the results. We’re proud of the fact that we negotiated as a united front and stood together all the way to the end; this helped lift everyone up. And negotiations will resume in less than a year. Before you know it, the process will start up all over again so that we can keep up with inflation,” explained Marc Bourget, President of Local Union 9554, which represents the 987 Montreal airport screening officers.
A night premium has also been introduced at the Montreal airport. The wage enhancements will also apply retroactively to all forms of compensation (including overtime, holidays, vacations and pensions).
There is also an increase in personal floater leaves, some of which are paid. In addition, the employer’s contribution to the insurance plan has increased. A signing bonus of $1,200 will be paid to regular workers and $600 to part-time workers.
In accordance with new federal regulations, ten paid sick days are now included in the contract. It should be noted that negotiations included the provision that screening officers will be able to take their ten sick days at the start of the year and that eight of these days can be paid at the end of the year if not used.
“This is clearly the best contract negotiated to date at regional airports. The common table bargaining format was a good thing for the regions,” noted Mario Boulianne, President of the Regional Airports Bargaining Unit (Local 1976).
It should be pointed out that at regional airports where shifts have been cut, a 50-cent-per-hour premium will be implemented. Airfare allowances for those who work at remote airports have been increased.
At the Quebec City airport, the 170 screening officers will now enjoy increased vacation time, and a student status has been introduced to facilitate work-study balance. A reclassification committee has been set up for workers with limitations. Officers certified to operate certain types of equipment will be entitled to a bonus.
“We are happy with the outcome of the negotiations and are already preparing for the next round, which will be in less than a year,” said Sébastien Boilard, President of the unit that represents Quebec City members (Local 1976).
Affiliated with the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), the Syndicat des Métallos/United Steelworkers is the largest private-sector union in Quebec, representing more than 60,000 workers in all sectors of the economy.
