Union representing contracted grounds crews for WestJet say they're close to calling a strike

STORY UPDATE, MARCH 2, 2022: A new agreement has been reached between the union representing WestJet's grounds crew and baggage staff at the Calgary International Airport and their employer, Airport Terminal Services (ATS).

Impacted members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) voted 65 per cent in favour of the new agreement and it was ratified on Feb. 25. The new contract offers a salary increase of 12 per cent over the next three years. The contract is next up for negotiation in August 2024.

Contract negotiations between the union representing WestJet's grounds crew and baggage staff at the Calgary Airport have reached a boiling point with their employer, Airport Terminal Services (ATS).

The two parties have been in negotiations since September, but haven't been able to come to a new agreement. 

Union representative Kevin Timms with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) says ATS recently provided employees a "substandard" offer.

"We held a vote on Monday for a tentative agreement that was voted down — rejected, and voted in favour of a strike in very high numbers," Timms said.

Since then, ATS has asked the union to come back to the table, and negotiations have been rekindled.

But, if an agreement can't be met, Timms said the union is ready to provide ATS with the mandatory 72 hours notice prior to striking.

Without grounds crews, Timms said ATS would have a hard time getting planes moving off or onto gates.

"When people drop their baggage off at the counter it goes on the conveyor belt into the back room where it's these employees that bring them to the aircraft, these employees that load and unload the aircraft," he said. 

"They are in charge of pushing that aircraft out for the departure, as well as when the planes come in, they would be in charge of parking it in the proper spots … emptying the lavatories as well as filling the potable water and towing the aircraft from gate to gate."

ATS did not respond to a request for comment, but in an emailed statement WestJet said it has been informed that both parties are committed to negotiating an agreement.