After a productive and collaborative round of negotiations with the Vancouver Airport Authority, a new collective agreement has been ratified by members working at YVR.
The four-year agreement, which expires December 2026, contains economic increases averaging 2.875% per year over the life of the agreement. The agreement also includes a cost-of-living clause based on the difference between the negotiated wage increases and the averaged consumer price index as well as increases to standby pay and weekend and evening shift premiums.
The new agreement also includes a letter of understanding to make the establishment of a defined benefit pension plan a priority during the term of the agreement, improvements to the benefit plan, and more flexibility around leave.
The bargaining team also negotiated several articles that recognize the importance of making the collective agreement more accessible to Indigenous workers as well as the sustainability and friendship agreement that YVR has signed with xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples.
New provisions also have been added to the agreement to keep pace with legislative changes including language around intimate partner violence leave, leave for traditional Indigenous practices, maternity and parental leave, and the inclusion of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The YVR bargaining team, comprised of Devin Glass, Chris Monk, Chris Miller, Robyn Renaud,
Alex Roth, Barry Tchir and Erna Post would like to thank all the members working at the airport for their support during this round of bargaining.
Approximately 500 members of Local 20221 are directly employed by the Airport Authority and provide key services such as emergency response, domestic and international arrivals customer care, runway and baggage conveyor maintenance, airfield & approach lighting, passenger loading operations, and administrative services at the airport.