Union of striking workers claims baggage handling delay in Toronto Pearson Airport
A large number of Swissport baggage handling staff who provide services to 30 out of 74 airlines at Toronto International Airport went on strike from Thursday over their union's perception of the contracts as "unfair"
Vice President of Teamsters Local 419, Harjinder Badial, said the baggage handling was delayed by a time period spanning from 20 minutes to three hours because of the unavailability of experienced ground crew who were picketing.
However, a statement from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority said just a minimal delay occurred in baggage handling on Friday evening.
Air Transat, Air France, and Sunwing were the airlines affected due to the ongoing strike by the Teamsters Local 419.
On last Tuesday, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) said it has a contingency plan in the case of a labour disruption by the Swissport workers.
A statement issued by the Teamsters Canada Local Union 419 last week said the temporary workers were inexperienced and received poor training.
Local spokesperson Christopher Monette, who was displeased with Swissport recently for employing temporary workers, thought this move by Swissport was a method to replace the normal regular workers and said they were being forced into this strike.
Pierre Payette, Vice President of Operations Swissport Canada, said they had hired the temporary workers to help handle rush during the summer travel.
Image: Creative Commons.
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