YVR Rampies vote in favor of strike

[Topspin]

That has to be some of the worst reporting I've ever seen.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columb ... alcomments

Vancouver airport strike would hinder holiday travel

Hundreds of unionized workers at Vancouver International Airport have voted 94 per cent in favour of strike action, just in time to use the busy holiday season to gain some leverage during contract talks.

It is not yet clear how a potential strike might affect the thousands of travellers expected to arrive at the airport for the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver from Feb. 12 to 28.

The 300 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are employed by Swissport and provide ground handling and baggage services for Westjet and Continental Airlines.

According to union spokesman Todd Haverstock, contract talks have hit an impasse and union job action could severely disrupt the operations of both airlines over the Christmas season.

He said a strike could affect the entire airport because Swissport employees maintain all of the airport's baggage-sorting equipment.

Haverstock said Swissport's final offer contained no wage increase for workers with less than two years of service, and just one per cent annually for longer-term employees, something he said is unacceptable when the average full-time wage is $11.30 per hour.

Last December, just days before Christmas, an estimated 3,000 people were stranded overnight at Vancouver International Airport after a snowstorm forced the closure of all but one runway.

[North Shore]

union job action could severely disrupt the operations of both airlines over the Christmas season.

Really? I'd be willing to bet that somewhere in the depths of the WJ contract with Swissport, well-buried in legalese, is a clause that says something like: "if Swissport baggage handlers go on strike, then WJ reserves the right to unilaterally cancel the contract, and get someone else to do the baggage handling"

Under the dictionary heading of 'Non-sequitur' you'll find this example:

Last December, just days before Christmas, an estimated 3,000 people were stranded overnight at Vancouver International Airport after a snowstorm forced the closure of all but one runway.

[ravensrule]

It is not yet clear how a potential strike might affect the thousands of travellers expected to arrive at the airport for the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver from Feb. 12 to 28.

The 300 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are employed by Swissport and provide ground handling and baggage services for Westjet and Continental Airlines.

He said a strike could affect the entire airport because Swissport employees maintain all of the airport's baggage-sorting equipment.

While it would affect WJ and CO, really everyone is screwed because they maintain the sorting system and most likely be blocking the road into the airport (or make attempts until YVR gets some sort of injunction.)

[WALL E]

We all get what we pay for.

[invertedattitude]

We all get what we pay for.

Bingo.

Regardless of what anyone says on this site, I've seen what WJA pays its 3rd party contractors.

How some of these companies stay in business is beyond me.

I remember working the ramp when the 800's came online, we went to YHZ to have a meeting with ramp guys from YQM/YHZ.

The WestJet Ramp guy told us, that TAC was able to turn the 737-800 full on full off with 5 guys in under 20 minutes.

First time I've seen an entire room of people outright laugh in someones face, I don't know if this kind of expectation is still the case, but when I worked it all they told us was that we required 3 people to arrive and depart their aircraft for safety, they paid a flat rate regardless of how many staff were working the flight, then on top of this they of course have bag delievery times to meet.

Bottom line is, they pay the absolute bottom line to 3rd party contractors and expect miracles, amazingly the work always got done, yet our contract pay never increased, you pay Swissport crap then they can't pay their staff and WestJet yet will bitch when the employees go on strike...

If above is not the case anymore than I apologize, but I'd be surprised if anythings improved.

[WALL E]

I will take a guess and say that all thrid party contract handelers are paid in this fashion. The company is paid per aircraft turn and the contractor spreads out the money as thin as possible.
I must add that as the majority of our handelers are contracts and honestly the guys and gals on the whole do a great job to get us in and out on time.

[invertedattitude]

I will take a guess and say that all thrid party contract handelers are paid in this fashion. The company is paid per aircraft turn and the contractor spreads out the money as thin as possible.
I must add that as the majority of our handelers are contracts and honestly the guys and gals on the whole do a great job to get us in and out on time.

I can count on one hand how many times my crew did not turn an airplane on time, and that's over 4 years of working for WestJet on the ramp, the guys were always really dedicated, because regardless of how pitiful you were paid for the amount of physical work you had to do, you still want to ensure your paycheck was coming in, that and being in a male envrionment the old rule of shutup and work always applied as well.

That and there is always a matter of pride in getting the job done right and on time, that also being said we NEVER deliberately over-sprayed an aircraft when de-icing, it was always what we thought was needed to do the job...

[WALL E]

I agree that there is a lot of pride shown by the rampies when they are working. I see it across Canada for the most part.
No need to come down on Westjet for the salary woes. These contracts are always who can do it for cheaper. Not saying I agree with it but that is the way it has always been done.
It can be a cut throat business and if company A gives a bid that is a dollar less well you know what happens.
Deicing is a whole other thread........

[mikeecho]

We all get what we pay for.

Bingo.

Regardless of what anyone says on this site, I've seen what WJA pays its 3rd party contractors.

How some of these companies stay in business is beyond me.

I remember working the ramp when the 800's came online, we went to YHZ to have a meeting with ramp guys from YQM/YHZ.

The WestJet Ramp guy told us, that TAC was able to turn the 737-800 full on full off with 5 guys in under 20 minutes.

First time I've seen an entire room of people outright laugh in someones face, I don't know if this kind of expectation is still the case, but when I worked it all they told us was that we required 3 people to arrive and depart their aircraft for safety, they paid a flat rate regardless of how many staff were working the flight, then on top of this they of course have bag delievery times to meet.

Bottom line is, they pay the absolute bottom line to 3rd party contractors and expect miracles, amazingly the work always got done, yet our contract pay never increased, you pay Swissport crap then they can't pay their staff and WestJet yet will bitch when the employees go on strike...

If above is not the case anymore than I apologize, but I'd be surprised if anythings improved.

With he exception of possibly a few isolated bases, this is basically not true.

WJ pays what the competitive bid process offers as a fair turn cost. Blame the handlers if they are offering their services below their costs. Even then, in many cases WJ doesn't even take the lowest bid as there are significant considerations given to the level of service that can be provided as well as cost. On top of that, WJ also offers financial rewards for handlers who meet the targeted performance levels (and these are paid out fairly frequently).

Also, the contracts require 4 agents + a supervisor per 737-700 and 5 agents + a supervisor for 737-800 flights. 3 is the minimum required to arrive and depart the flight in order to meet the requirements of the Ground Operations Manual, but the contractual requirement is higher as noted. The handler offers their turn cost based on those requirements. If the handler is desperate and prices their turn cost below the cost to handle the flight, then they likely won't be in business for long and that is of no benefit to WJ.

I can even think of a base or two where WJ has told the handler to increase their rates for fear that the mom and pop handler wouldn't stay in business, which would limit handling options.

[KAG]

One of the biggest differences I see at WJ over what I saw at Jazz was the ground guys/gals. There on time, fast and accurate. The little wave to the guests at the end is always nice too. I have seen people run, RUN with bags trying to get them on and us out on time. This isn't just WJ TAC I've seen Swissport do it as well. It's great to see and I'd hate to see anything change.
Keep up the good work.

[Topspin]

I can count on one hand how many times my crew did not turn an airplane on time, and that's over 4 years of working for WestJet on the ramp, the guys were always really dedicated, because regardless of how pitiful you were paid for the amount of physical work you had to do, you still want to ensure your paycheck was coming in, that and being in a male envrionment the old rule of shutup and work always applied as well.

That and there is always a matter of pride in getting the job done right and on time, that also being said we NEVER deliberately over-sprayed an aircraft when de-icing, it was always what we thought was needed to do the job...

+1. I started in this business working WestJet ramp at YVR, first WWFS, then SP, and still in the community at YVR doing other things. In 3 years of running a crew, only took one hit because of the CSA's trying to pull a bag that didn't exist. We made it fun, it takes a different kind of person to do that job for a long time, most don't cut it, not for lack of ability, but a square peg in a round hole.

Crap in-crap out applies, BUT: Most of these guys are on their 2nd and 3rd contractor, they know exactly what they're in for, and they know better than this. And if this leads to another service provider showing up, not much question they'll end up working for even less.

Having worked there, and other labor jobs as a teenager, I think that their is no reason for them to be making anymore than a construction laborer or warehouse worker. Especially in the airport environment of, "Turn your plane and then go bugger off for 2 hours before the next one shows up." I can't think of any other workplace where one only works for 25% of the paid shift, and even then, only two guys on the crew are really breaking their backs.

I have a lot of sympathy for those guys, and still have a lot of friends out there. It's a precarious situation, in which they really have nothing to gain. Seems there really is no more money, not just a tight fisted contractor. This union is absolute B/S too, between the 6 figure extortion scandal and the fact that, based on negotiated wages one has to work there for 36 months to actually see a positive wage increase post union, yet impossible to get 80% to de-certify.

Such is life I guess, happening everywhere. Service company's turning into WalMart.

[Maurice]

We all get what we pay for.

Bingo.

Regardless of what anyone says on this site, I've seen what WJA pays its 3rd party contractors.

How some of these companies stay in business is beyond me.

I remember working the ramp when the 800's came online, we went to YHZ to have a meeting with ramp guys from YQM/YHZ.

The WestJet Ramp guy told us, that TAC was able to turn the 737-800 full on full off with 5 guys in under 20 minutes.

First time I've seen an entire room of people outright laugh in someones face, I don't know if this kind of expectation is still the case, but when I worked it all they told us was that we required 3 people to arrive and depart their aircraft for safety, they paid a flat rate regardless of how many staff were working the flight, then on top of this they of course have bag delievery times to meet.

Bottom line is, they pay the absolute bottom line to 3rd party contractors and expect miracles, amazingly the work always got done, yet our contract pay never increased, you pay Swissport crap then they can't pay their staff and WestJet yet will bitch when the employees go on strike...

If above is not the case anymore than I apologize, but I'd be surprised if anythings improved.

I can tell you the cost per turn is cheaper in YYC with WestJet TAC agents than in YVR, and WJ TAC agents start at over $13 per hour.

[x cma]

Less than $24,000 per year and you say "keep up the good work".

[balfour]

Less than $24,000 per year and you say "keep up the good work".

But you had no problem flying airplanes at CMA for less than that?

[Jastapilot]

ZING!

[x cma]

Yes, as we all know, CMA, JAZZ, GEORGIAN, BEARSKIN etc, are all excellent examples of "good" companies that a lot of WestJet and AC folks were exploited by pay wise.... although perhaps some don't see it that way.

And the cycle continues. Its so nice not to be there anymore and to finally have arrived isn't it.

Even though those Rampies must realize that they are really helping out at $24,000 per year so that the really important people that are actually inside the plane can be paid more and a few LOTS, I don't think "keep up the good work" is going to cut it come strike time.

[CanadaEH]

I hear that Swissport and the union have an agreement in place. Ratification next week.

[invertedattitude]

$13/hour is "Cheaper" ??

When I started on the ramp I was getting paid $8/hour, and after eight years of service I was getting paid $14/hour and that's with a $1/hour shift lead bonus, no ramp companies in this part of the country pay any better as far as I know either.

I would say the average salary of a ground team working a WestJet flight in Atlantic Canada is somewhere around $9-$10/hour.

[Maurice]

$13/hour is "Cheaper" ??

When I started on the ramp I was getting paid $8/hour, and after eight years of service I was getting paid $14/hour and that's with a $1/hour shift lead bonus, no ramp companies in this part of the country pay any better as far as I know either.

I would say the average salary of a ground team working a WestJet flight in Atlantic Canada is somewhere around $9-$10/hour.

I didn't say anything about Atlantic Canada, all I said was YYC is cheaper than YVR and YYC guys start at $13/hour. If the guys in YVR make an average of $11/hour it's not because WJ is not paying the contract company enough.