October 12, 1997

AIRPORT WORKERS LAND DEAL

TENTATIVE THREE-YEAR CONTRACT PACT AVERTS THREAT OF LABOR DISRUPTION

By AMANDA MORRALL -- Edmonton Sun Marathon talks between Edmonton Airports and its emergency and maintenance workers ended last night with the signing of an agreement inked 36 hours after negotiations began.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents 175 airport workers, reached a tentative three-year agreement with its employer around 10:30 p.m., averting the threat of a strike.
"We're ecstatic, relieved and happy. It's just a big burden off our shoulders," said an exhausted but elated Paulette Jensen, spokesman for the union.
Details of the deal were not released by mutual consent of the parties but both sides expressed enormous relief and happiness to have it settled.
"We're delighted to have struck a deal," said Edmonton Airports spokesman Susan Elliott.
"It was a very tough bargaining session, and it's more money than we had planned to offer, but on the other hand a strike would have been very disruptive," Elliott said.
The deal still requires approval from the unionized workers, which include snowplow operators, firefighters and maintenance workers. A ratification vote is expected to be held Tuesday.
Negotiators, through a mediator, worked around the clock to hammer the deal together at an Edmonton hotel while workers and their bosses paced nervously outside.
The union workers were poised to strike at 12:01 a.m. yesterday but a last-minute offer by management renewed talks which began around 11 a.m. Friday and continued through the night and all day yesterday fuelled by nerves, coffee and dozens of pizzas.
PSAC and airport officials confess it was a crazy pace but said they were determined to hash things out while the momentum was there.
"They didn't want to leave empty handed," said Jensen.
Airport authority head Scott Clements, who returned from a provincial trade mission in Asia in the event of a labor disruption, couldn't be reached for comment but a spokesman said he was pleased with the resolution.
The main stumbling block throughout the negotiations was a dispute over wages. The union was looking at a 25% increase over three years and the authority had their eyes set on 11%.
A wage hike for firefighters was the main contention because of impending federal legislation that would declare the airport firefighters an essential service.
Jensen said it was their last chance to fight for the wage hikes.
"We have to stand our ground now while we still can. Otherwise, next year the employer won't have to negotiate," she said earlier in the day.