CALGARY,
AB, July 5, 2024 /CNW/ - On the first day of
the Calgary Stampede, Unifor is holding a rally at
Calgary International Airport on
July 5 to shine a spotlight on
Paladin, after the security company's refusal to provide bathroom
breaks and water to workers.
"Access to water and washrooms are the most basic of asks in a
workplace," said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
"It's not just fundamental decency, it's about human rights.
Unifor members, day in and out, are keeping passengers and the
Calgary airport safe and deserve
respect."
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
(CATSA) is the crown corporation responsible for providing airport
security, CATSA subsequently contracts the work out. Previously, it
was given to GardaWorld, before the Vancouver-based Paladin took over April 1, 2024.
The 937 Unifor Local 2002 members, who work as Paladin airport
screening officers, training specialists and team leaders, are
demanding more from an employer whose contract is worth over
$1 billion.
In an emergency meeting held by Local 2002 last month, members
raised a multitude of poor working conditions still plaguing the
Paladin workplace, such as members unable to take scheduled breaks
or missing breaks altogether.
The company has been sending people home at the start of shifts,
claiming it is overstaffed, and then during that same shift
removing breaks because there are not enough screening officers to
handle demand.
The members are often denied bathroom and water breaks – some
have been threatened with discipline if they try to take them on
shifts where a relief worker is not available. Screening officers
at other airports in the country are permitted to carry water
bottles on their person or keep them in a localized area in the
checkpoints for easy access but they are not allowed to do that at
Calgary International for unknown reasons.
Access to water and sanitation are recognized by the United
Nations as human rights and fundamental to everyone's health,
dignity and prosperity.
"Paladin needs to recognize the urgency of addressing these
deplorable working conditions immediately," said Unifor Local 2002
President Tammy Moore.
"We're demanding that all members be treated with dignity and
respect and be granted the decency to work in acceptable
conditions. We need to stand strong together in solidarity and show
Paladin that we will not tolerate this treatment. We also want to
thank the public for its patience for any travel delays as we try
to resolve this."
CATSA must govern its contractors, including Paladin,
accordingly and ensure Unifor members are treated with respect.
Unifor has tried repeatedly to resolve these matters with
Paladin management, but the company has failed to act.
The union has filed both grievances and health and safety
complaints. Members have fainted at work or experienced medical
issues due to working through shifts without breaks.
Last year, members experienced heat stress at the airport, due
to lack of ventilation and air conditioning, and this spring, under
Paladin's rule, fans were removed from checkpoints altogether.
Unifor is Canada's largest
union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every
major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working
people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in
Canada and abroad and strives to
create progressive change for a better future.
SOURCE Unifor